Ever wondered how English – with 1.5 billion speakers in all corners of the world and approximately 750,00 words – came to be the wonderfully expressive and multifaceted language it is today?
Unlike languages that developed within the boundaries of one country (or one distinct geographical region), English, since its beginnings 1,600 or so years ago, evolved by crossing boundaries and through invasions, picking up bits and pieces of other languages along the way and changing with the spread of the language across the globe.
Where was English first spoken?
English is a West Germanic language that descended from Anglo-Frisian dialects introduced to Britain by three Germanic tribes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes. These warlike tribes invaded and settled on the island during the 5th and 6th centuries AD, pushing native Celtic-speaking inhabitants to the north and west (present-day Scotland, Wales, and Cornwall).
Over time the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes mixed their various Germanic dialects, creating what is today known as Old English, the first stage in the history of the English language.Originally, the words England and English derived from the Old English word Angle-land, which means “the land of the Angles” where the people spoke “Englisc”.
How old is modern English?
The modern English language emerged between 1450 and 1500. There are two stages in its development: the Early Modern Period (from 1450 to 1800) and Late Modern English (from 1800 to the present).
The shift from Middle English to Early Modern English happened due to numerous cultural, political, and economic factors. One of them was the invention of the printing press. William Caxton established his printing press at Westminster Abbey in 1476. This was significant because people started using a common language in print. As a result, English grammar and spelling became more standardized. And since most publishing houses were in London, its dialect became the standard.
Also, during the English Renaissance, many Greek and Latin words entered English. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) invented many English phrases and sayings, still used today. Finally, there was the rise of the British Empire and the Industrial Revolution, which led to the expansion of the vocabulary.
English language today
Currently, English is the primary language of not only countries actively touched by British imperialism, but also many business and cultural spheres dominated by those countries. It is the language of Hollywood and the language of international banking and business. As such, it is a useful and even necessary language to know.
