20 episodes

Where did the phrase ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ come from? And when did scientists finally get round to naming sexual body parts? Voiced by Clive Anderson, this entertaining romp through 'The History of English' squeezes 1600 years of history into 10 one-minute bites, uncovering the sources of English words and phrases from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to America and the Internet. Bursting with fascinating facts, the series looks at how English grew from a small tongue into a major global language before reflecting on the future of English in the 21st century.

The History of English in Ten Minutes - for iPod/iPhone The Open University

    • Education

Where did the phrase ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’ come from? And when did scientists finally get round to naming sexual body parts? Voiced by Clive Anderson, this entertaining romp through 'The History of English' squeezes 1600 years of history into 10 one-minute bites, uncovering the sources of English words and phrases from Shakespeare and the King James Bible to America and the Internet. Bursting with fascinating facts, the series looks at how English grew from a small tongue into a major global language before reflecting on the future of English in the 21st century.

    • video
    Anglo-Saxon

    Anglo-Saxon

    A look at what words the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings bought to the English language.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- Anglo-Saxon

    Transcript -- Anglo-Saxon

    A look at what words the Anglo-Saxons and Vikings bought to the English language.

    • video
    The Norman Conquest

    The Norman Conquest

    In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain and bought with him fancy French words to add to the English language.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- The Norman Conquest

    Transcript -- The Norman Conquest

    In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded Britain and bought with him fancy French words to add to the English language.

    • video
    Shakespeare

    Shakespeare

    This video tells us that Shakespeare invented over 2000 new words and phrases like eyeball, anchovy and puppy.

    • 1 min
    Transcript -- Shakespeare

    Transcript -- Shakespeare

    This video tells us that Shakespeare invented over 2000 new words and phrases like eyeball, anchovy and puppy.

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