SZKOLENIA JĘZYKOWE

The history of any other modern language has never been more tempestuous than that of English. Spanning for more than 15 centuries and over thousands of generations of users, it both astounds and fascinates. Nowadays, there are more than 1,5 billion users of Englishworldwide, native and non-native, with more than 200,000 words and 600,000 definitions in its venerated lexicon – the Second Edition of the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary.

The language is considered to be one of the most flexible and innovative with the simplest syntax and grammar rules to have ever been invented. What dumbfounds even more is that even some of its obsolete vocabulary could be possibly brought back to use these days.

In my first article on the history of English, I remarked that in the 5th century AD, the British Isles experienced a wave of conquest by warrior tribes from north-western Europe, the Anglo-Saxons. Although they were ruled by different warlords, they shared the same language, which was a distinctive form of West Germanic dialect.

The Anglo-Saxons stayed in Britain for the next 500 years, calling themselves Angles and their homeland Angeln. Their language, Englisc, was heavily influenced by Latin with only a few words being derived from original Celtic dialects of the indigenous islanders.

Old English began to appear in writing during the early 8th century AD with most texts written in West Saxon, one of its four variations. In many cases today, modern English bears a resemblance to that primal Englisc used by the Angles over 1,000 years ago. Take a look at such words as see, stoarm, rein or sliepe. Their meaning would not be too knotty to guess by any modern-day user of English.

But the influence of the medieval vernacular is still so far-reaching that even English days of the week refer to the early Saxon gods. Wednesday, for example, is named after Woden – the foremost god in the ancient Germanic mythology, while Friday after goddess Freyja, Woden’s wife.Interesting enough, many Old English words could possibly make their way back to the present-day dictionaries and usage. Do you ever pretend to be working while in fact you are not? Then you are fudgelling. Ever burst out with an uncontrollable laughter? That’s kenching. Or dominated a talk? Parwhobbling!

Beside is a list of 12 most curious examples of the Old English jargon. They are bizarre, they are amusing, they are pretty convenient too. I can guarantee you will frisk around reading that through.

MUGWUMP

When your colleague is trying to calm down sth that appears to be a fierce and confrontational discussion, he is being a mugwump, an impartial angel sort to say. It is a deprecating word, though.

GRUFELING

Although used to ridicule someone, it is a useful word describing the activity of lying closely wrapped-up and in a comfortable-looking manner.

FUDGEL

One of the handiest. It is to pretend to be working, while in fact doing nothing at all.

GROKE

This is what dogs do. They do not need to be hungry to stare at you while you are eating in hope of getting something.

BANG-A-BONK

It might not look like it, but this is a verb meaning to sit lazily on a riverbank.

CRUM-A-GRACKLE

That would actually be any awkward or difficult situation.

FLENCH

Particularly typical for the British weather. It flenches when it looks like it is going to improve but it never does.

PARWHOBBLE

When you dominate a conversation shutting others up, the truth is, you are a parhwobbler.

RAZZLE

This is always happening when you want to bake a cake. No matter how much time it is in the oven, it is always burnt at the outside and raw inside. You razzled it.

SLOCHET

This is my favourite. When you get up at night and do not really care about your slippers, you just put them on and walk along even though they really come off your feet. That is slocheting.

JARGOGLE

Ever confused someone with your unique jumble? You jargogled.

KENCH

You would describe anyone as kenching when they laugh out loud while reading something, managing to thoroughly embarrass themselves.

I hope you have thoroughly enjoyed my read. I am going to write my next article about the astonishing influence that English has exerted all around the globe. Stay tuned!

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