Where did English come from? – Claire Bowern

View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/where-did-english-come-from-claire-bowern

When we talk about ‘English’, we often think of it as a single language. But what do the dialects spoken in dozens of countries around the world have in common with each other, or with the writings of Chaucer? Claire Bowern traces the language from the present day back to its ancient roots, showing how English has evolved through generations of speakers.

Lesson by Claire Bowern, animation by Patrick Smith.

language

1437059129

2015-07-16 15:05:29

4:54

UCsooa4yRKGN_zEE8iknghZA

TED-Ed

14707

265

source