Introducing Language in Use: a Coursebook
Activities
Language Change
Names are interesting in various ways and can indicate how both the language and/or society has changed over the centuries.
- Streets with the following names can all be found in the centre of York:
- Gillygate
- The Shambles
- Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate
- Jubbergate
- Grape Lane
- Feasegate
- Goodramgate
- Lendal
First of all, decide where you think the names have come from and then use a dictionary or a website about the city to see if you are right.
- Village names worth considering are:
- Patrick Brompton
- Burton Agnes
- Burton Constable
- Thornton Steward
- Askham Bryan
- Askham Richard
All of these villages happen to be in North Yorkshire but how do you think the villages have acquired such names? Once you have decided what you think the answer might be, try using an internet search engine and see what you can find out. Then consider some of the village names in your part of the world.
- In Wellingborough, there is a road called The Pyghtle. What do you think it might mean?
- What about these names? What do they mean? How did the place come to have this name?
- Rotherham, Doncaster, Treeton (all in South Yorkshire)
- Honeybourne, Pershore, Cropthorne (all in Worcestershire)
- Aberdeen, Inverary,
- Aberdovey, Swansea,
- Look at place names in your own area and see what you discover.