The Origins of English

English is a Germanic language, originating from a collection of North Sea coastal dialects spoken by tribes known as the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes.
The Old English period (c. 500 – 1100 AD) is marked by a highly inflected language with a relatively free word order, and an inventory of sounds and letters that are no longer in use.
The later Viking invasions (793–1066 AD) introduced a considerable number of Norse words into the language, particularly in the north of England. Some common words, like sky and egg, are Norse in origin.
The Norman Conquest (1066 AD) brought a huge influx of Latin and French vocabulary into English. This influence can still be seen today, particularly in institutional language and in the tendency towards pairs of synonyms - one Germanic (like ‘ask’), one French/Latin (like ‘question’).
The Middle English period (1100- 1500 AD) is marked by increased word borrowing, the continued use of inflexions (but reduced in comparison to old English), and a more fixed word order.
The Greater Vowel Shift occurring between (1400-1600 AD) brought fundamental alterations in the pronunciation of the long vowels, greatly influencing the modern standard pronunciation.
The Early Modern English (1500 – 1800 AD) period saw the first attempts at English grammar guides and dictionaries. The influential ‘King James Bible’ and works of Shakespeare fall into this period.
Late-Modern English (1800-Present) has the richest vocabulary of any language due to globalisation, technological developments and the influence of other languages.
Standardization, a significant political process involving choices about status and appropriateness, affected English in terms of both language form (spelling, grammar, pronunciation) and geographical distribution.
The rise of Received Pronunciation and “the Queen’s English” in the 19th century, largely due to the influence of the public school system, is one example of how social, cultural and political factors can shape and change a language.
The globalisation of English throughout the 20th and 21st centuries highlights the language’s adaptability and hints at its future developments, including the growth of “World Englishes” and the influence of technology on language use.
The exploration of dialects, regional variations, sociolects, and idiolects provides a diverse insight into the rich tapestry of the English language.