Today’s article touches on the foundation of the English language.
Yes, English is an old language that has evolved over thousands of years. The earliest version of English was called Old English, which was spoken from around the 5th to 11th centuries.
How did English originate?
English originated from dialects spoken by Germanic peoples, including the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
These peoples migrated to Britain in the 5th century AD from what is now northwest Germany, southern Denmark, and the Netherlands.
The language they spoke was called "Englisc".
How has English changed over time?
Old English developed into Middle English after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Middle English was spoken until the late 15th century.
Modern English began to develop in the 16th century.
English has been influenced by many other languages and cultures, including Latin, French, Dutch, and Afrikaans.
Of course, a great way to learn old English is reading Shakespeare’s literature.
The language in which Shakespeare wrote is referred to as Early Modern English, a linguistic period that lasted from approximately 1500 to 1750. The language spoken during this period is often referred to as Elizabethan English or Shakespearian English.
It isn’t easy, but school books available write in his original tongue on the left page and in present English on the right. Therefore, cross reference can be made to make sure you get the correct meaning of sentences.
Take care!
Prof. Carl Boniface
Vocabulary builder:
The Angles people came from Germany and Denmark, early invaders of Roman Britain conquering the majority of the land which later became England.
The Saxons originated from the North Sea coast of Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Their name comes from the seax, a small sword they used.
The Jutes were a Germanic people who originated in Jutland, which is now part of Denmark. They were one of the tribes that invaded Britain in the 5th century AD, along with the Angles and Saxons.
AD stands for Anno Domini, which is Latin for in the year of the Lord. It's a way of counting years based on the estimated birth of Jesus Christ. BC stands for Before Christ, and it's a way of counting years before the estimated birth of Jesus
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