English Language
In real English language actually started with the coming of three Germanic tribes who attacked Britain during the 5th century AD. These three tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from that today is Denmark and northern Germany. That time mostly people of Britain spoke a Celtic language. But, most of the Celtic speakers were pushed west and north by the attackers – mainly into what is now Scotland, Wales and Ireland. The word from which word England and English is derived is Englisc and this word is derived from the angels who are called Englaland.
Germanic attackers entered Britain on the east and south coasts in the 5th century.
Old English Language (450-1100 Ad)
The attacking Germanic three tribes mostly spoke similar languages, we called it Old English and it is derived from Britain. That old English did not sound like English we speak today. Natural English speakers now would have a great difficulty to understand the old English. However, more than half word present in new English is derived from old English. For example word strong and water derived from old English. Until around 1100 Old English was spoken. This page about the English Language proudly presented by cash loans, a cash loan, cash advance and payday loan supplier in Australia.
Middle English Language (1100-1500)
In 1066 William the Victor, the Duke of Normandy (part of modern France), attacked and ruled England. The new victors (called the Normans) and they brought with them a kind of French, which later became the language of business classes and the ruling Royal Court. For a period, there was two division of language class where the lower classes spoke English and the upper classes spoke French. With many French word added English become the dominate language of Britain. This language is called Middle English. The great poet Chaucer (c1340-1400) was also Middle English, but it would still be very difficult for natural English speakers to understand and speak today.
Modern English
Early Modern English time was (1500-1800)
Hamlet’s famous lines “To be, or not to be”, written in Early Modern English by Shakespeare a big writer.
After the end of Middle English, a quick and different change in pronunciation (the Great Vowel Shift) started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16th century, the British had contact with many peoples from around the world. This, and the Renaissance of Classical learning, it mean that many new words added into the modern English. There was a common language that’s why printing was invented. More people started learning books. Printing also brought adjustment to English. Spelling and grammar became fixed, and the language of London, where most publishing houses were, became the standard. The first English dictionary was published in 1604.
Late Modern English (1800-Present)
Vocabulary is the main difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English. This late Modern English has many more words, arising from two principal factors: firstly, the need to create new words was Industrial Revolution and; secondly, English language adopted foreign words from many countries because the British Empire at its height covered one quarter of the earth’s surface.