A Brief History of English Language:)

A Brief History of English Language:)

Language is the way by which people express their feelings and thoughts to others. It is the medium through which knowledge and literature are passed down from generation to generation. Every educated individual is assumed to understand the structure of his or her language, its place in the world and relationships with other languages, the source of its vocabulary, and the major political, social, and cultural influences on the language.

The arrival of three Germanic tribes who invaded Britain in the 5th century AD marked the beginning of the English language's history. The Angles, Saxons, and Jutes came from what is now Denmark and northern Germany and crossed the North Sea. The people of Britain spoke a Celtic language during the time. However, the invaders pushed the majority of Celtic speakers west and north, primarily into what is now Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. The Angles originated in "England" [sic], and their language was known as "Englisc," from which the words "England" and "English" were derived.

OLD ENGLISH (450-1100 AD)

The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which evolved into what we now know as Old English in Britain. Old English did not have the same sound or appearance as modern English. Native English speakers today would struggle to comprehend Old English. Nonetheless, Old English roots may be found in almost half of the most regularly used words in Modern English. Until roughly 1100, Old English was spoken.

A SAMPLE OF OLD ENGLISH POETRY

Nu sculon foerigean

(Now we must praise)

feeofonrices Weard

(Heaven-kingdom's Guardian)

(Caedmon)

Middle English (1100-1500)

William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy (modern-day France), attacked and conquered England in 1066. The new invaders (known as the Normans) brought a form of French with them, which became the language of the Royal Court, as well as the ruling and business classes. For a while, there was a language divide between the upper and lower classes, with the lower classes speaking English and the upper classes speaking French. In the 14th century, English reclaimed its dominance in Britain, albeit with many new French phrases. Middle English is the name given to this dialect. It was the language of the great poet Chaucer (c1340-1400), although native English speakers would struggle to grasp it now.

A SAMPLE OF MIDDLE ENGLISH POETRY

Me thinketh it accordant to resoun

To telle you al the condicioun

Of eech of hem, so as it seemed me,

And whiche they were, and of what degree,

And eek in what array that they were inne…

(Chaucer)

Modern English

Early Modern English (1500-1800)

A significant change in pronunciation, known as the Great Vowel Shift, began toward the end of Middle English, causing vowels to be pronounced progressively shorter. Starting in the 16th century, the British interacted with diverse cultures worldwide, introducing many new words and phrases into the language. This period also saw a revival of Classical learning during the Renaissance.

The invention of the printing press helped create a standardized written language. As books became more affordable, literacy rates increased. Printing also contributed to the standardization of English, with the London dialect—home to most publishing houses—setting norms for spelling and grammar. The first English dictionary was published in 1604.

Late Modern English (1800-Present)

The most significant distinction between Early Modern and Late Modern English is vocabulary. The Industrial Revolution and technology produced a need for new terms, and the British Empire, at its peak, encompassed one quarter of the earth's surface, and the English language adopted foreign words from many countries.

A SAMPLE OF MODERN ENGLISH POETRY

Dogwood flakes

the green

the petals from the apple-trees

fall for the feet to walk on

the birds are so many they are

loud, in the afternoon

they distract, as so many bees do

suddenly all over the place

(Olson)

VARIETIES OF ENGLISH

Because of the United States' dominance in movies, television, popular music, trade, and technology, American English is extremely significant today . However, there are many additional types of English spoken around the world, such as Australian English, New Zealand English, Canadian English, South African English, Indian English, and Caribbean English, to name a few.