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History of English

English Language History

The history of the English Language.

‘Sumer is icumen in’
English Language History

‘Sumer is icumen in’

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

‘Sumer is icumen in’ in both Audio and text versions. Middle English Sumer is icumen in, Lhude sing cuccu! Groweş sed and bloweş med And springş şe wde nu, Sing cuccu! Awe bleteş after lomb,…

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Short Poem & Numbers in Modern Frisian
English Language History

Short Poem & Numbers in Modern Frisian

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Short Poem & Numbers in Modern Frisian in both Audio and text versions. Modern Frisian Būter, brea, en griene tsiis, Wa’t dat net sizze kin is gjin oprjochte Fries. Ien, twa, trije, fjouwer, fiif, seis,…

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Nigerian Pidgin English
English Language History

Nigerian Pidgin English

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Nigerian Pidgin English in both Audio and text versions. Nigerian Pidgin English How Bodi. How You Dey? I dey fine. Why you dey give me wahala? Your story get k-leg! Abeg! No waste my time!…

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The Lord’s Prayer in Old English
English Language History

The Lord’s Prayer in Old English

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023February 22, 2025

The Lord’s Prayer in Old English in both Audio and text versions with Middle English and Modern English translations. Old English Fæder ure şu şe eart on heofonum, si şin nama gehalgod. to becume şin…

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Excerpt from ‘Le Chanson de Roland’ in Norman French
English Language History

Excerpt from ‘Le Chanson de Roland’ in Norman French

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Excerpt from ‘Le Chanson de Roland’ in Norman French in both Audio and text versions. Middle English Carle li reis, nostre emperere magnes, Set anz tuz pleins ad estét en Espaigne: Tresque’en la mer cunquist…

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Birhtwold’s Speech from ‘The Battle of Maldon’
English Language History

Birhtwold’s Speech from ‘The Battle of Maldon’

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Birhtwold’s Speech from ‘The Battle of Maldon’ in both Audio and text versions. Old English Hyge sceal þy heardra, heorte þy cenre, Mod sceal þy mare þy ure mægen lytlaþ. Her ligeþ ure ealdor eall…

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Beginning of the ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’
English Language History

Beginning of the ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Beginning of the ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’ in both Audio and text versions. Middle English Sişen şe sege and şe assaut watz sesed at troye Şe bor3 brittened and brent to brondez and…

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Beginning of the Prologue of Beowulf
English Language History

Beginning of the Prologue of Beowulf

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Beginning of the Prologue of Beowulf in both Audio and text versions. Old English Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, monegum mægþum, meodosetla…

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Beginning of the General Prologue to Chaucers Canterbury Tales
English Language History

Beginning of the General Prologue to Chaucers Canterbury Tales

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Beginning of the General Prologue to Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in both Audio and text versions. Middle English Whan that Aprill with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote, And bathed…

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Passage from the ‘Ormulum’
English Language History

Passage from the ‘Ormulum’

ByRichard Barker October 9, 2023November 15, 2023

Passage from the ‘Ormulum’ in both Audio and text versions. Middle English Þiss boc iss nemmnedd Orrmulum, Forr þi þatt Orrm itt wrohhte. Icc hafe wennd inntill Ennglissh Goddspelless hallghe láre, Affterr þatt little witt…

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Example of the American Dialect
English Language History

Example of the American Dialect

ByRichard Barker September 28, 2023November 15, 2023

Example of the American Dialect in audio format with text transcript. Please call Stella. Ask her to bring these things with her from the store: Six spoons of fresh snow peas, five thick slabs of…

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Babu English: an ornate English used in Indian legal circles
English Language History

Babu English: an ornate English used in Indian legal circles

ByRichard Barker September 28, 2023November 15, 2023

Babu English: an ornate English used in Indian legal circles in both Audio and text versions. Sir, It is submitted here for your kind and sympathetic consideration, and we are at this moment here at…

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