The
Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 until 1901. During
this time many important events took place which greatly impacted the English
Language. For example the industrial revolution completely transformed the
western world and was the age of inventions and contraptions of science and
industry. In order to accommodate for all of the new inventions and ideas that
came about, many new words were added to the English Language, as well as many
loan words which were introduced as a result of items from different cultures
being brought to England. New words also had to be created for the many illnesses
and medicines of this period.
During this
period, the English Language also became more standardised than it had ever
been before. This was due to the Education Act, put in place in 1870, which
made it compulsory for children between the ages of 5 and 13 to go to school. The
employment of children under 12 years old was also no longer allowed. The education
of women also changed as previously, upper class girls were expected to marry
and therefore had no need for a formal education. However as views of women
changed and they became more independent, their knowledge and education
increased as colleges opened for them to attend. People in this time from
different classes also became more literate because improved printing
technology meant that books could be produced faster and for a lower price. This
encouraged more people to learn to read so that they could read the newly
available books.
New means of
transport also came about during this era such as trains and steam ships. With
travelling being easier and faster than ever before, more people were coming to
or moving around the country and this was another reason that English Language
experienced rapid change. The improving transport also meant that new products
were able to be brought into England more easily and this in turn lead to many
loan words becoming part of Early Modern English.
Another
reason for loan words being introduced was The Great Exhibition which was within
the Crystal Palace and displayed many different inventions, as well as attracting
people from all over the world. Over 100,000 objects were displayed inside by
over 15,000 contributors from within the British Empire. However new words for
the many inventions were also introduced.
