ABSTRACT
This chapter highlights how language change can be illustrated by texts which, without historical context, can seem 'normal' to reader. One option is to investigate the history of the English language chronologically. This is helpful to those students who like shape and order to their studies. English became a second-, or indeed third-class language in its own country behind the French of the ruling classes and the language of learning and religion, Latin. William Caxton set up the first printing press in Britain, an important moment in the history of the language. Characterising the development of the English Language through its early periods helps our students to appreciate what had happened to the language before the date of any texts that might be chosen for examination purposes. Most obviously, the students can be asked to research into the way that English has developed from common roots with Germanic languages. Students can trace back through families of languages.
