A short history of the origins and development of English
The history of the English language really started with the arrival of three Germanic tribes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD These tribes! the Angles! the "a#ons and the $utes! crossed the %orth "ea from what today is Denmar& and northern Germany At that time the inhabitants of Britain spo&e a 'eltic language But most of the 'eltic spea&ers were pushed west and north by the invaders ( mainly into what is now )ales! "cotland and *reland The Angles came from +Englaland+ and their language was called +Englisc+ ( from which the words +England+ and +English+ are derived
Germanic invaders entered Britain on the east and south coasts in the 5th century ,ld English -.5/(00// AD1 The invading Germanic tribes spo&e similar languages! which in Britain developed into what we now call ,ld English ,ld English did not sound or loo& li&e English today %ative English spea&ers now would have great difficulty understanding ,ld English %evertheless! about half of the most commonly used words in 2odern English have ,ld English roots The words be!strong and water! for e#ample! derive from ,ld English ,ld English was spo&en until around 00// 2iddle English -00//(05//1 *n 0/33 )illiam the 'on4ueror! the Du&e of %ormandy -part of modern 5rance1! invaded and con4uered England The new con4uerors -called the %ormans1 brought with them a &ind of 5rench! which became the language of the 6oyal 'ourt! and the ruling and
Part of Beowulf, a poem written in Old English.
An example of Middle English byChaucer. business classes 5or a period there was a &ind of linguistic class division! where the lower classes spo&e English and the upper classes spo&e 5rench *n the 0.th century English became dominant in Britain again! but with many 5rench words added This language is called 2iddle English *t was the language of the great poet 'haucer -c07./(0.//1! but it would still be difficult for native English spea&ers to understand today 2odern English Early 2odern English -05//(08//1 Towards the end of 2iddle English! a sudden and distinct change in pronunciation -the Great 9owel "hift1 started! with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter 5rom the 03th century the British had contact with many peoples from around the world This! and the 6enaissance of 'lassical learning! meant that many new words and phrases entered the language The invention of printing also meant that there was now a common language in print Boo&s became cheaper and more people learned to read :rinting also brought standardi;ation to English "pelling and grammar became fi#ed! and the dialect of London! where most publishing houses were! became the standard *n 03/. the first English dictionary was published Late 2odern English -08//(:resent1 The main difference between Early 2odern English and Late 2odern English is vocabulary Late 2odern English has many more words! arising from two principal factors< firstly! the *ndustrial 6evolution and technology created a need for new words= secondly! the British Empire at its height covered one 4uarter of the earth>s surface! and the English language adopted foreign words from many countries 9arieties of English 5rom around 03//! the English coloni;ation of %orth America resulted in the creation of a distinct American variety of English "ome English pronunciations and words +fro;e+ when they reached America *n some ways! American English is more li&e the English of "ha&espeare than modern British English is "ome e#pressions that the British call +Americanisms+ are in fact original British e#pressions that were preserved in the colonies while lost for a time in Britain -for e#ample trash for rubbish! loan as a verb instead of lend! and fall for autumn= another e#ample! frame(up! was re(imported into Britain through Hollywood gangster movies1 "panish also had an influence on American English -and subse4uently British English1! with words li&e canyon! ranch! stampede and vigilante being e#amples of "panish words that entered English through the settlement of the American )est 5rench words -through Louisiana1 and )est African words -through the slave trade1 also influenced American English -and so! to an e#tent! British English1 Today! American English is particularly influential! due to the ?"A>s dominance of cinema! television! popular music! trade and technology -including the *nternet1 But there are many other varieties of English around the world! including for e#ample Australian English! %ew @ealand English! 'anadian English! "outh African English! *ndian English and 'aribbean English The Germanic 5amily of Languages
English is a member of the Germanic family of languages Germanic is a branch of the *ndo(European language family A brief chronology of English 55 B' 6oman invasion of Britain by $ulius 'aesar Local inhabitants spea& 'eltish AD .7 6oman invasion and occupation Beginning of 6oman rule of Britain
Hamlets famous !"o be, or not to be! lines, written in Early Modern English by #ha$espeare. .73 6oman withdrawal from Britain complete ..A "ettlement of Britain by Germanic invaders begins .5/(.8/ Earliest &nown ,ld English inscriptions ,ld English 0/33 )illiam the 'on4ueror! Du&e of %ormandy! invades and con4uers England c005/ Earliest surviving manuscripts in 2iddle English 2iddle English 07.8 English replaces Latin as the language of instruction in most schools 073B English replaces 5rench as the language of law English is used in :arliament for the first time c0788 'haucer starts writing The 'anterbury Tales c0.// The Great 9owel "hift begins 0.C3 )illiam 'a#ton establishes the first English printing press Early 2odern English 053. "ha&espeare is born 03/. Table Alphabeticall! the first English dictionary! is published 03/C The first permanent English settlement in the %ew )orld -$amestown1 is established 0303 "ha&espeare dies 03B7 "ha&espeare>s 5irst 5olio is published 0C/B The first daily English(language newspaper! The Daily 'ourant! is published in London 0C55 "amuel $ohnson publishes his English dictionary 0CC3 Thomas $efferson writes the American Declaration of *ndependence 0C8B Britain abandons its colonies in what is later to become the ?"A 08B8 )ebster publishes his American English dictionary Late 2odern English 0ABB The British Broadcasting 'orporation is founded 0AB8 The ,#ford English Dictionary is published History of the English Language(http<DDwwwenglishclubcomD