One needs only to glance at Chaucer, or even further back at Beowulf, to see that English has not always what we call English. Divided into the major epochs of the language--Pre-English Britain, Old English (which was formed from an invasion of Latin & Old Norse), The Transition from Middle to Modern English, and finally Modern English--this casual re-telling of history will engross you. Mingling history, religion, famous people, and linguistics, the story of English is integrated into the story of Western History. 150 pages, softcover. Supplemental material is available online (website in book) for chapter worksheets, unit tests, links, and suggested movies.

What an amazing gift God gave the world in the English language! Last year I bought Karen a talking Christmas card depicting Linus of Peanuts reciting the Christmas story: “for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Now I know these words come directly from outlaw and martyr William Tyndale’s “dangerous” English Bible translation of 1526! I know because I read King Alfred’s English, a tale of kings, conquerors, poets, peasants, and scholars alike, whom God has used over the centuries to weave together the intricate tapestry of the most expressive language the world has ever known. We English speakers command the largest vocabulary in the modern world. With over 600,000 entries, we have nearly three times as many words to express ourselves as anyone else. Expression is power; that is why so many want to learn English!

But how and where did English get started? What role did the Church, Reformation, and the English Bible play? How did Latin become a “prison” to the spread of the gospel? What was the Brothers Grimm’s amazing discovery? What ever happened to “thee and thou,” and how did we get from Old to Modern English? Can you spot an Anglo-Saxon word from a Latin one? The answers may surprise you!

Homeschool mom Laurie White wrote this lively history elective for grades 7 to 12. Free worksheets, tests, and research activities are available online. 150 pages, softcover from The Shorter Word Press.

—Dean

http://www.christianbook.com/alfreds-english-history-language-speak-should/laurie-white/9780980187717/pd/187717

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