Lesson # 2 The Evolution of English

ENGLISH
FOR ACADEMIC &

PROFESSIONAL
PURPOSES
LESSON # 2: THE EVOLUTION OF ENGLISH,
AN INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE –
A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
OBJECTIVES:
I SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
1. PREVIEW THE TEXT BY PARTICIPATING IN A DYADIC EXCHANGE OR SIMPLE GROUP
DISCUSSION;
2. SUPPLY THE GRID WITH THE NECESSARY CLUE IN FINDING THE MEANINGS OF THE
UNFAMILIAR WORDS TAKEN FROM THE SELECTION;
3. GIVE THE MEANINGS OF WORDS BASED ON CONTEXT CLUES GIVEN;
4. ARRANGE IN SEQUENCE THE GIVEN STATEMENTS TO COME UP WITH THEIR OWN
VERSION OF THE HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE; AND
5. FORMULATE A SENTENCE OUTLINE OF THE GIVEN SELECTION
ACTIVITY 1: PREVIEWING THE TEXT
vs
LEARNING THE HISTORY OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LANGUAGE, WHICH

BECAME THE MOST NOTED AND SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN THE WHOLE
WORLD, IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
A. WHEN YOU WERE STILL IN LOWER GRADE LEVELS,
DEPED INTRODUCED THE USE OF BILINGUAL
EDUCATION, CONSIDERING THE FILIPINO
LANGUAGE AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION. A LOT
OF SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY PRIVATE ONES,
NEGATED THIS INSTRUCTION,
AND SO MANY FOLLOWED, BUT SOME DID NOT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS

NEGATED THIS IDEA?
AS STUDENTS, HOW MANY OF YOU ARE IN FAVOR OF USING
FILIPINO AS THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION FROM ELEMENTATRY
TO HIGH SCHOOLS?
YOU DO: DEBATE
◦
 TWO GROUPS: 1ST – AGREES; 2ND - DISAGREES

 ASSIGN A SPEAKER/DEBATER
 5 MINS – EXCHANGE VIEWS
 10 MINS – PRESENTATION OF YOUR STAND
 ANYONE OF EACH GROUP CAN GIVE
ADDITIONAL IDEAS TO SUPPORT
THE LEADER’S EXPLANATION
 THE GROUP WITH THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL
EXPLANATION WILL WIN THE DEBATE
ACTIVITY 2: UNLOCK ME
UNFAMILIAR CLUES TO THE WISE GUESS BASED DICTIONARY MEANING
WORDS MEANING ON THE CLUES
EVOLUTION
PERCEPTION
PERPETUATE
PROSPER
OBSCURE
READING TO WRITING
THE EVOLUTION OF ENGLISH, AN INTERNATIONAL
LANGUAGE – A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
by: Jose A. Carillo
The evolution of the English language has been a very

crucial issue that even linguists continue to debate on this. But
one thing very important is the need of this in confirming our
perceptions, to share information, to express our feelings,
expressions and desires, and of course, to form opinions.
In his book, English Plain and Simple, Carillo asserts that
humanity had come up with an estimated 6,800 spoken
languages over the centuries. Only a thousand of them,
however, were put into writing, the speakers relied solely on
oral tradition to perpetuate their beliefs, literature and culture.
Mainly for this reason, many of the languages disappeared with
hardly a trace, and it is expected that some 3,000 more will die
within the century. Among them are the 250 aboriginal
Australian languages, the 1,000 American Indian languages,
and perhaps 160 of 169 languages native to the Philippines …
Pilipino, the Tagalog-based language, should survive and
prosper because it has been made the national language.
A crude language that began only 1,500 years ago is now the
international language. The language, of course, is ENGLISH. It
was originally spoken by a few obscure Germanic tribes that, in
the 5th and 6th A.D. moved out from what are now modern-day
Denmark and Northwest Germany. They crossed what is now
called the English Channel and invaded what was to become
modern-day England. Coming from an angle-shaped area in
their homeland, they came to be known as the Angles, from the
Latin word Angli, which later mutated into the Old English
“Engle.” By 1,000 A.D., “Engle” had evolved into Angel-cyn,
meaning “Angle Race,” later changing to “Engla-land” this
eventually became “England” from which “English” was
derived.
Old English had 50,000 to 60,000 words but
modern English now counts 1,000,000 words,
800,000 are of foreign origin.
Riding on modern telecommunications, English

spread globally with astonishing speed during
the last half century. English, of course, is now
the global language for business, technical and
cultural exchange. It is also the language of the
world’s largest companies & entertainment
industries. English in just two and a half
centuries, has managed to become the world’s
language-of-all-trades. It is grammatically
simpler than any other languages.
Activity 3: Comprehending the Selection
After reading the text answers the questions on how well you
understand the selection. Answer in short sentences:
1. Of the 6,800 spoken languages, only how many were put into
writing?
2. What are the reasons behind this?
3. Why is the English language used in both oral and written
communication nowadays?
4. What do you think was the mood of the writer when he wrote this
article?
5. Read the last paragraph. Explain the author’s position. What does
he want us to do?

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ENGLISH

FOR ACADEMIC &

LEARNING THE HISTORY OF THE EXISTENCE OF A LANGUAGE, WHICH

WHAT DO YOU THINK SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS

 TWO GROUPS: 1ST – AGREES; 2ND - DISAGREES

The evolution of the English language has been a very

Riding on modern telecommunications, English

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