(2017-12-31, 02:28 AM)Kamarling Wrote: [ -> ]As an Englishman, "bollocks" has always been part of my vocabulary, both in the literal sense (meaning balls/testicles) and in common usage, meaning nonsense (as we might also use "bullshit").
These past few days I've been watching a BBC documentary on the origin and spread of the English language. Really fascinating for all English speakers - I can highly recommend it. I can't imagine how I missed it when it was first broadcast but now it is available in full on YouTube.
I suck at English grammar. Messing up;
who-whom, a-an, then-than, were-where, there-their, have-has etc.
But I can tell you the reason why we speak
fairly good - and understand, the English language in this country - is only because all of the English/American programs shows on TV is always subtitled. Meaning; from being kids listening to the English spoken and the subtitles beneath, its the best english-teacher you can get. If you look at countries like Germany, France, and Italy, etc, they always have voice-overs translating it to their language. It sounds insane listening/watching any American movie in Germany, with their silly voice-overs in german, as in France, Italy, etc. They have particular voice-over-stars. Actors that "sounds" like Brad Pitt, but are French, and does the voice-overs. I don't think they care so much these days, but if you listen to some of the old movies it sounds like Eddie Murphy is speaking German, like he was born there.
So, the fact that you listen to the words spoke, and then have the direct subtitle below is the "best English teacher" there is. Kids learn the language in a flash. Germans, French, Italians, Spanish, etc. only get their english lesso9ns at school.
But the Scandinavian languages has made some impact on the english language also. Some of the English words are straight down from the Scandi-languages. (because of the Viking invasion, and settlement in the British Isles.
The first word that came to mind was;
Ombudsman. This is the
exact spelling, meaning, and phrasing of the word, we use. The word
Ombud is a person that is representing another person/party - often in a legal matter. The first time I heard an Englishman say
Ombudsman, I thought he was pulling my leg, since it was a clear Scandinavian word.
And, since the Vikings raided and settled in UK for some years there is a few other words that stuck;
- berserk/bärsärk– berserkr, lit. ‘bear-shirt’. A berserkr was a Viking warrior who would enter battle in a crazed frenzy
- club – klubba. People have been bashing each other with heavy things since time immemorial, but not until the Danes started bringing this weapon down on English heads did this blunt weapon receive its fittingly blunt name.
- ransack – rannsaka (to search a house)
- slaughter – slatra (to butcher)
- bylaw – bylög (village-law)
- sale – sala
- heathen – heiðinn (one who inhabits the heath or open country)
- skill – skil (distinction)
- Hell – In Norse mythology, Loki’s daughter Hel ruled the underworld.
- steak – steik (to fry)
- husband – hús (house) + bóndi (occupier and tiller of soil) = húsbóndi
- thrall – þræll (slave)
- law – lag
- thrift – þrift (prosperity)
- litmus – litr (dye) + mosi (lichen; moss)
- tidings – tíðindi (news of events)
- loan – lán (to lend)
- troll - troll
- saga - saga
- yule – jul (a pagan winter solstice feast)
But the most common language, that binds most together is Latin. If you know Latin you can get by learning most of the other western languages.
PS:
Pardon my poor English. 
