Rationale:  To get some practice with what we've been talking about, you are going to do a web-based activity involving etymology (word histories).  You will apply what you know, and by completing this project, you will learn something new.

Assignment:  
   (1)  Take a look at a map of influences of other languages upon English.

   (2)  Now, choose eight (8) words 2 from each of the following parts of speech-Noun, Adjective, Adverb, Verb-these should be words you're relatively interested in.  Consult a dictionary or book to help you brainstorm.

   (3)  You are going to research the histories of the eight (8) words you've chosen.  Use the links provided to the right to help you.  Also use the printed versions of the Oxford English Dictionary or any word history books we have in the library.

    (4)  As you are researching take notes on the following.
  (a)  Where did the word come from (what language)?
  (b)  What was did the word mean? 
  (c)  What year's hypothetically did it enter our language?  
  (d)  How is the meaning of the word different or similar to its original? 

Project:
1) Next on a blank sheet of paper, you are going to "draw" your words in a font that represents that word (example:  happy, evil).  

2)  On the top half of the paper you will write the various forms and histories of the word.  These should be in complete sentences.  You should cite your information.

3)  On the bottom half you will write an account of what was going on historically at the time the word entered the English language.  (see example)

Sutton Hoo Burial

Pretty Alfred

Venerable Bede (summer job opportunities)

  

Maps of Great Britain
Maps of PreRoman England, Roman Britain, Britain after Hastings--Four different maps that I've arranged with an explanation.  Click on any map and see the original website (perhaps better view since I had to shrink them.)
Map of Anglo-Saxon England

Dictionaries and Word Histories
Word Origins--This site has a list of words.  Click on the word and get a history.
Etymology for Teens--A bit teeny-bopper in its approach, but none-the-less some words with interesting histories.
Turns of Phrase--A great site that give us the origins of some of our weird turns of phrase.
Geocities Etymologies--Word histories in geocities.com.
Word Histories--A fairly limited site with some interesting word histories.
Bright's Old English Glossary--Connect with a glossary of Old English words.

Articles and Interesting Sites
The History of Our Language--This site has some extensive research and information concerning the history of our language.  It also includes a time chart of events.
English now Influencing the Germans--Read this article from The Lexington Herald regarding English's influence on other languages.
Other Languages Spoken in America--According to the 1990 census, there are 213 languages spoken in the U.S.  Which ones are they?  I bet you'll be surprised.
World Wide Words--a quirky site about words, language and usage.
Illustrated Vocabulary--another quirky, mot-phile site
Word Detective--Fun site! For people interested in the history of word, a web magazine
Old English Lord's Prayer--Look how it has changed.
Old English Website--An interesting and relatively user-friendly site about Old English with a few cool links.