The Evolution of the English Language

Introduction

As the name suggests, the English language is deep-rooted in England. The English language evolved when Britain was invaded by three Germanic tribes in the 5th century AD. When the Saxons, Jutes, and Angles crossed the North Sea from present-day Denmark, northern Germany. In the meantime, the dwellers of Britain opted for a Celtic language. These Celtic orators were shifted mainly to present-day Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. The Angles arrived from "England" and spoke a language called "Englisc" - the words “English” and “England” came from it.

Ancient Times English (450-1100 AD)

The conquering Germanic clans spoke the same languages, which had lately developed as Old English. It was not found to be similar to English today. Present-Day English speakers may find it greatly difficult to learn about Old English. Notwithstanding, almost half of commonly used Modern English words hold roots back in Old English, like water and strong. It was in use until around 1100.

Middle-aged English

Dated back to 1066, Normandy's Duke William the Conqueror took control over England. The Normans brought along a sort of French, which was adopted as the Royal Court's language and by business classes and ruling parties. In the long term, a linguistic division could be observed; the lower classes spoke English, while French was preferred by the upper class gentry. By the 1300s, English ruled in Britain, though the vocabulary was peppered with French words. It was the medium of conveying the instructions by poet Chaucer (c1340-1400), which is still hard for modern-day English orators.

Modern-Day English

Early Modern form of language (dated from 16th to 19th century)

Middle English drew a drastic change in pronunciation in the vowels being uttered shorter at the verge of its end. In the 1500s, the British communicated using this locale worldwide. The first-ever dictionary of English was published in 1604.

Late/ Present Day Modern English

The basis of distinguishing between early and late modern English is the vocabulary. The latter holds more words, arising from two principal factors: the first one is per the needs of the technology and Industrial Revolution; secondly, the increasing rule of the British Empire over one-quarter of the earth's surface. That's how the English language could originate its words worldwide and made its use widespread from 1800 to the present day.

Conclusion

English has certainly been deep-rooted in history from 450 AD to today. English has traveled for many centuries, many countries to reach where it is.

FAQs

When and where does English originate from?

English originated from England in the 5th century Ad and came with the invasion of England by three Germanic tribes.

When did the first dictionary of the English language get published?

The first dictionary, Robert Cawdrey’s Table Alphabeticall, was published in 1604 and listed around 3,000 words.

What is the difference between early and late modern English?

The difference is in the vocabulary of early and late modern English.

Where can you find the origins of the words England and English?

Origins of the words England and English can be discovered from the Angles place England.