The document traces the evolution of the English language from its Anglo-Saxon roots to modern times. It discusses the influences of Old English runes and grammar, the Norman conquest in 1066, the Great Vowel Shift, and other phonetic and orthographic changes over the centuries. It also provides examples of modern texting abbreviations and slang that have developed as informal variants of standard English words and phrases.

1. World Referent (outside language) Written Word “cat” or “c - a- t” (transcription of language sound) Spoken Word /kæt/ (language sound)

2. Anglo-Saxon Runic Futhorc Greek Alpha-Beta

5. consonants Hring (ring) Hwīt (white) Cneow (knee) Gnawan (gnaw) Wrītan (write)

6. I mutation Alteration of certain vowels by suffixes Mann + iz (plural) = manniz = menniz = men

8. 1066 William the Conqueror Battle of Hastings Normal Conquests

9. Influences of English Language

11. minim i, j, m, n u, v m, n develop connecting lines I becomes i J becomes j

13. reduction Hlāf = loaf Weard = ward Hlāf-weard = keeper of the bread Hlāford Laverd Lord

15. . : ,

16. Great Vowel Shift mi faytack; sue doe oars mi fetak sc do urz mai fit ek so du aurz my feet ache; so do ours

17. war and far /a/ became rounded after /w/ warm, water, wall /a/ > /e/ did not round wager

18. silent e mad made maddening

19. Other Factors

20. At the moment becomes atm Be back soon becomes bbs Because becomes cuz, bcuz, bcz, bcos, bc, cos, coz or bcoz Best friend or Boy friend becomes bf or b/f Best friend(s) for life becomes bffl Best friend(s) forever becomes bff By the way becomes btw Can't be assed becomes cba Forever becomes 4eva or 4evr For your information becomes fyi Friend becomes frend Got to go becomes g2g or gtg Have a nice day becomes H.A.N.D. Hold on becomes hld on or h/o Homework becomes hw, hwk or hmwk How are you becomes hru I don't care becomes idc I don't know becomes idk I do what I want becomes idwiw I love you becomes ily, luv u, ilu, or luvya In my opinion becomes imo In my humble opinion becomes imho Laugh out loud becomes lol Lots of love becomes lol Laughing quietly to myself becomes lqtm Message (as in a text message) becomes msg Never mind becomes nm or nvm (depending on context used) No problem becomes np "No thank you" becomes "nty" or "no ty" Obviously becomes ovvi or obv Of course becomes ovcors or ofc Oh my god becomes omg or (comicly) zomg Parents over shoulder becomes pos Please becomes plz or plez Probably becomes probz, prbly, prolly, or prob Love becomes <3 or luv Peace becomes pce, pece, or (V sign) Rolling on the floor laughing (out loud) becomes rofl(ol) Something becomes sth, s/t, or sumthin Sorry becomes sry, "soz", or "sori"