English Over Time

English over Time

Known as the Anglo-Saxon period of English, Old English was a Germanic language, dramatically different to our modern English.
It included several dialects, such as West Saxon, Kentish, Mercian and Northumbrian.
Texts from this period, such as Beowulf, are almost indecipherable today unless specially studied.

Middle English emerged after the Norman Conquest in 1066, which introduced an enormous number of Norman French words to the English language.
The best known work from this period is Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Printed English became standardised in this period, largely due to the influence of the printing press.
The Great Vowel Shift, a major change in pronunciation, occurred during the early part of this era.
Works by Shakespeare exemplify the language of this period.

This period has witnessed growth in the English lexicon (vocabulary), due in large part to the Industrial Revolution, globalisation and the proliferation of digital technology.
Intrinsic features of this period include variations in speech, encompassing accents, dialects and sociolects, which reflect evolution in different geographical locations and social groups.

Accent refers to the way words are pronounced, whereas a dialect, includes pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and idioms that distinguish it from other forms of English.
Dialects and accents reflect historical, geographical and social influences and have developed and diversified over centuries.
Regional dialects and accents in the UK are diverse. For example, Geordie (North East), Scouse (Liverpool), and Cockney (East London), each possessing distinct phonological, grammatical and lexical features.

A sociolect is a variation of language associated with a particular social group or class.
Examples include Multicultural London English (MLE), which is influenced by a range of languages, capturing the multicultural identity of much of London’s populace.

The advent of digital technology and the Internet have significantly impacted and continue to shape English.
Informal language, abbreviations, emoji use, and the coining of new terms, such as ‘selfie’ and ‘hashtag’, are features of digital communications.

Language convergence refers to the mixing of languages, as seen in the development of pidgin and creole languages, or cases where loanwords enter mainstream usage.
Language divergence occurs when a language splits into different, distinct languages or dialects, often due to geographical isolation or societal changes.

English has evolved differently worldwide due to the influence of colonisation and globalisation. Variants such as American English, Australian English, and Indian English each have their own unique features.
The dominance of American English, largely through media influence, has led to the spread of American spellings and idioms internationally.
English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) refers to the use of English as a common language between speakers whose first language is not English. This form of English often simplifies grammar and favours clarity over adherence to traditional rules.