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The History of the English Language

The language's history can be separated into many distinct

Esra Üzmez3 min read
Scrabble tiles forming words about education
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The language's history can be separated into many distinct periods:

Old English

Before 700, the Germanic tribes arrived in Great Britain.

The Angles, the Saxons, the Jutes, and the Friesians and their migratory movement founded Old English.

The language evolved up until 1100 and a few well-known words left their mark.

Before VIII and the IV century, the arrival of the Old Icelandic, in particular by the Vikings marked a new turning point in the English language.

Middle English

After his victory in 1066, William the Conqueror settled in Great Britain. The Norman, the language spoken at the time was set to have a direct impact on the English language.

The French language became the language of the nobility, whereas English remained the people's language.

In 1362, English was still recognized as the official language in the courts. Then, Henry IV's mother tongue was English and not French. Thereafter, the official documents of the nobility were exclusively in English.

Modern English

Early Modern English: between the XVI century and the XVII century, the English language became more structured. In fact, spelling and grammar became more ordered.

Latin and Greek, however, continued to influence the English language.

The renaissance, marked by global openness, opened its doors to all the languages that would leave a mark, on both a small and large scale on Shakespeare's language.

Late Modern English

Latin starts to have an increasing influence on English. Latin is in particular used as the scientific and technical language, however, it was set to have an important place during the industrial revolution.

By the end of the XVIII century, the tables were turned, and English took over. It then spread into Ireland, then into North America, and into Australia.

Nowadays, Contemporary English has become the most spoken language worldwide.

English is the most widely spoken language worldwide!

  • More than 450 million people have English as their mother tongue.
  • More than 750 million speak English as a foreign language.
  • English remains the first taught language worldwide.

Why should you learn English in a connected world? Because English is a Global language!

Oh yes, have you ever noticed how everyone uses English words?

From speaking about dress codes to simply using technical terms at work?

Even adverts have caught on; you must have seen Apple's catchphrase "Think different" or Nespresso's mythical replica "What else?"

You can find many online courses, which will no longer make you appear like a beginner in English! Alternatively, you can opt for English courses or beyond. Contact us for more details!

Because English is the Most Spoken Language on the Internet If you want to keep up to date with current affairs across the globe, then you should master the English language!

You should learn how to have a solid level in English to be able to understand online texts.

Stay connected as English is a Considerable Asset in the World of Work.

English is the first and most world widely spoken language; therefore learning it is a priority, in order to communicate in the world of business, catering, tourism, and translation.

Esra Üzmez

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Esra Üzmez

Esra Üzmez is a translator, interpreter and recruitment professional with a multidisciplinary background spanning language, communication, education and human resources.

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