Which of the following statement best describes the historical origins of Old English? Select the best answer.

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Question restatement: Which statement best describes the historical origins of Old English?
Option 1: 'Old English began as a dialect of an old form of Celtic.' This is inaccurate because Old English is classified as a Germanic language, not a Celtic dialect. Celtic languages form a separate branch of the Indo-European family, while Old English descends from the Germanic branch.
Option 2: 'Old English began as a dialect of an old form of Dutch.' Dutch is a West Germanic language, but Old English did not originate as a dialect of Dutch; rather, both languages share a common West Germanic ancestor. Describing Old English as a dialect of Dutch misrepresents its historical lineage.
Option 3: 'Old English was originally a dialect of an old form of German.' While Old English is Germanic, it is not simply a dialect of modern German; it developed as its own West Germanic language from the broader Proto-Germanic group, separate from the later German standardization. This statement is overly simplistic and not historically precise.
Option 4: 'Old English began as a branch of PIE. Over time it evolved into various different "germanic" languages.' This option correctly identifies that Old English ultimately descends from Proto-Indo-European (PIE) through the Indo-European tree, then from Proto-Germanic into the West Germanic languages, with Old English evolving alongside other Germanic languages. This captures the broader historical pathway from PIE to the Germanic family.
Option 5: 'Old English began as a dialect of an old form of French.' This is not supported by linguistic history, as Old English does not originate from a Romance/French lineage. French is a Romance language, which is not the ancestral path for Old English.
In summary, the most historically accurate framing is that Old English traces its roots back to Proto-Indo-European, then Proto-Germanic, and subsequently evolved into the Germanic language family, rather than being a dialect of Celtic, Dutch, German, or French.

CL LING_V 101 001/003 2025W1 Quiz 6 (Q6) Sec. 003

Which of the following statement best describes the historical origins of Old English? Select the best answer.

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