REFLECTIVE ESSAY

By: Tabitha Byrd

    Over the course of this semester, I feel that I am more knowledgeable on the subject of the English Language. First of all, providing a map on the different areas in which English was deprived from gave concrete source, in which help me vividly visualize how our language changed over time. English came from Anglo-Saxon, language of Germanic tribes in about 449 A.D. That time is also the beginning for Old English. We have taken on many borrowing words because of the French conquest.

    You helped me learn some of the major features in English, such as lexicon, syntax, orthography, inflections, phonetics, and morphology, by examining these in depth first before we looked at the different periods of the English Language. Lexicon is how words are formed; syntax is dealing with alphabet characters; morphology indicates the relationship of words in a sentence; and orthography is looking at the spelling of words. What really helped me understand these concepts is when we examined how those features were seen in periods of the English Language.

    For instance, in Old English, I know there were not many borrowing of words. Looking at syntax, the verb of the sentence did not have a specific order but could appear in any order. That was clearly a hint of knowing that passage is probably in Old English. Now, in Middle English, beginning 1066 A.D., English language's vocabulary developed more by borrowing many French words. As well, one important point is that we began to have word order in sentences (S-V). But the spelling began to become very differen. Fortunately in that same period, Chancery created a standard in spelling, and William Ganston was the first printer in England. This definitely allowed us to have standard of spelling words since text became movable. Lastly, in Modern English beginning about 1500 A.D., the prescriptive grammar came about. The spelling of words became consistent. We had syntax order of S-V-O constantly. This is only a brief summary what I learned about these periods in English.

    Also, in this class, the presentations were helpful in understanding different concepts such as eponyms, proper names, idioms, folk etymology, pejoration, college slang, and black slang. One of these that I liked the most was pejoration. That is because it amazed me to know that how the meanings of a word can change over a period of time. For example, once "silly child" meant holy (blessed one), but of course today it would mean foolish one. Moreover, since I had to choose a topic in the study of English Language, perhaps I could better help somebody else understand the holophrastic stage. At least, I could provide some resources to help another person in one's research.

    Completing essay assignments help me to collect and develop my own thoughts and ideas on a particular subject. For instance, should Standard English be taught in schools? Yes, I believe Standard English should remain taught in schools. But at the same time, another person's English such as African American English should not be taught as being improper but should be valued and respected.

    Dr. Canada, as you stated in your syllabus, "Language means everything," and that is what I become to believe. This world cannot exist without language. We need it.