Over the centuries, the English language has significantly transformed from its Germanic roots into a global lingua franca. Key developments in English have made it an appealing vehicle for expression and communication worldwide.
Old English (450-1100 AD)
The tale of English starts with the coming of Germanic tribes to Britain in about 450 AD. These tribes were themselves composed of various groups, not all of which we can trace with certainty, but we can name some of them: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes seem to figure prominently (Baugh & Cable, 2002). The "Germanic" element in the story of Old English, then, is a very "local" story—a story largely of people arriving in Britain and not so much of people bringing the language of Old English to regions outside of Britain.
Middle English (1100–1500 AD)
Middle English probably started to take shape around 1100 AD when Old English began to merge with Norman French, with which the conquerors had enriched the language of the conquered (Barber, 2000). This period was marked by the introduction of a large number of French vocabulary items and by a tremendous simplification of grammatical structure. Probably the best-known part of Middle English literature is Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales (Baugh & Cable, 2002).
The conversion to Early Modern English was greatly stimulated by the invention of the printing press and the Renaissance (Crystal, 2003). The Great Vowel Shift happened during this time, changing the pronunciation of the English language forever (Barber, 2000). Even though the works of William Shakespeare were written in Early Modern English, they influenced the English language to a far greater degree than any others at the time (Crystal, 2003).
Contemporary English (1800–present)
Propelled onto the world stage by the Industrial Revolution and British colonialism, English continued to evolve (McCrum, 2010). It absorbed vocabulary from various cultures and adapted to technological advancements. The early 20th century, however, was not only a time of global war (and huge profits for American businesses) but also a time when the language of the U.S.A. became the dominant international force—far more than in any previous era (Crystal, 2012).
In recent decades, the digital age has hastened the transformation of language. New platforms for expression and interaction, especially the internet and social media, have introduced modern English to new vocabulary, new styles of communication, and new opportunities for rapid linguistic change (Tagliamonte, 2016). The half-sentence and the emoji—brand-new forms of expression—are as much a part of today's English as the LOL text message and the tweet (or Xeet?).
- Reece Benson
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