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Where did English come from? - Claire Bowern

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TEDEd Animation

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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.

We talked about several similarities between English and German. Can you find others by looking at a dictionary of German and comparing the words to their English translations?

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About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Claire Bowern
  • Director Patrick Smith
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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