The Global Origins of Everyday English Words
English was a global language before the 20th century. By metrics, around 40% of English words are actually loanwords, originating from other languages. Many of these words have similar meanings in English as in their language of origin. The process of English becoming a global language took centuries as it gained more loanwords through trade and more speakers through the actions of English-speaking countries.
English grew from the West Germanic language family alongside German. The two languages would differentiate by the 5th century AD, with people migrating from northern Germany to the British Isles. Even after becoming distinct languages, English borrowed some words from German that are used today.
German
Kindergarten: Literally "children's garden"; a school for young children.
Doppelgänger: A look-alike or "double walker"
Angst: A deep feeling of anxiety or dread.
Gesundheit: Said after someone sneezes; literally "health"
Rucksack - a backpack.
Wanderlust - a strong desire to travel.
Kaputt – usually with one t, slightly modified definition
In 1066, the King of Northern France conquered England because of a succession crisis. This event would begin modern English history, the historical English/French rivalry, and bring French words into English. While I have chosen to list French words we still think of as French, this process started with words that have fully integrated into English.
After the Norman conquest, the Norman language started to mix with Old English, and Norman words reflected their position as the ruling class. For example, “blouse”, “chamber”, and “mutton” are of Norman origin. Many words that sound posh or refined originate from Norman French. This perception of refinement has contributed to the elegance of the French language.
French
bon appetite - enjoy your food
bon vogage - enjoy ypour trip
Déjà vu: Literally "already seen"; the feeling of having experienced a current situation before.
Faux pas: A "false step"; a social blunder or embarrassing mistake.
Voilà: "There it is"; used to suggest success or to present something.
RSVP: Short for Répondez s'il vous plaît ("please respond").
entrepreneur – business founder
bureau – office/desk
cliché – overused idea
fiancé/fiancée – engaged person
Ancient Greece was a mighty civilization. Although it was not the biggest ancient empire, Greece grew to have influence over many areas of life. The Greeks were interested in many things including fine arts, literature, biology, and government, among many other fields. Their work in these areas would be recorded, and by the Renaissance loanwords would trickle into English because of a lack of existing English terminology,
Greek
Democracy - a government system by the people of the country.
Hyperbole - exaggerated statements made for effect (a figure of speech).
Metamorphosis - changing into something completely different.
Philosophy - the study of basic ideas about knowledge, life, reality, religion, truth, nature, etc.
Symphony - a piece of music for a full orchestra.
The Romans would conquer modern-day England in 43 AD. However, Latin loanwords would not enter English until much later. Even after the Western Roman Empire collapsed, Latin remained important in European culture through the spread of Christianity. The words we often use and associate with Latin would start appearing in English in the 17th century, continuing into the 18th century. The Latin language was used for religious practice and Scripture reading within the church. When the English crown broke with Rome during the English Reformation, the King authorized the first English Bible translation, known as the Great Bible (1539). In the following decades and centuries, Latin words would come into English to fill some linguistic gaps in English at the time that we still use today. This process would cement itself around 1611, when the recognizable KJV translation would solidify English as the dominant language for religious matters in England.
Latin
Et cetera (etc.): "And the rest"; used at the end of a list.
Vice versa: The other way around.
Ad hoc: Created for a specific, immediate purpose.
Status quo: The existing state of affairs.
Carpe diem: "Seize the day".
Per se: "By itself"; specifically.
Alibi - evidence that shows someone didn’t do a crime because they were somewhere else.
Data - facts, numbers, and statistics used for analysis.
Veto - a no vote (or the power to say no) that stops an action.
memorandum (memo) – written note
via – by way of
Even long after the Roman Empire, the Italian Peninsula would continue to be a place of innovation in thought and art. Many Italian words came into English due to lingustic gaps in new music and thought.
Italian
Balcony - a platform on the outside of a building.
Graffiti - writings or drawings on a public surface like a wall (often done with spray paint).
Opera - a drama with music, singing, and an orchestra.
Piano - a large keyboard musical instrument.
Stiletto - a high, thin, heel on a woman's shoe.
Solo - alone
Manifesto - declaration
Prior to 1945, many Japanese words entered English because there was a linguistic gap. An example that we still use today is the term tsunami. Starting in the 1950s, Japan rebuilt itself and grew rapidly economically. This change led to cultural exchange between Japan and Western nations. Movies and TV would enhance the adoption of these words throughout the 1960s to 1980s. Japanese influence and culture have not slowed down, as Japanese media, entertainment, and food have continued to fascinate and inspire young people in Western countries. Japan has a surprising number of words that have been adopted by English speakers that describe a Japanese-specific thing: anime and manga, for example.
Japanese
Emoji - a little picture used in digital communication.
Karaoke - singing along with recorded music for fun.
Tsunami - a long, high wave caused by an earthquake.
Umami - a deep, savory, meaty or brothy flavor.
Tofu - soft, pale food made by pressing coagulated soy milk into solid white blocks
Matcha - a vibrant green powder made from shade-grown tea leaves that you whisk directly into hot water or milk instead of steeping.
Origami - The traditional Japanese art of folding flat sheets of paper into decorative or representational three-dimensional shapes.
Haiku - a short unrhythmed form of Japanese poetry that traditionally follows a 5-7-5 syllable structure.
Ninja - A historically trained covert agent, spy, or mercenary from feudal Japan skilled in stealth and martial arts.
Karate - A traditional Japanese martial art and sport focused on unarmed self-defense using striking techniques.
Since modern English history started with the conquest of the Normans, the language has constantly been growing in its loanword count. Words would be taken from surrounding languages, influences, and, over the centuries, trade and conquest. Many loanwords don't even translate to English with the same meaning as in their original language. English may have formally become a global language in the 20th century, but it did not start there. English continues to grow and change even to this day.
Comments