History of the English Language

Study Notes

English is a West Germanic language that originated from Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers in the 5th century
Influenced by Latin, Greek, and French during the Norman Conquest of 1066
Middle English (circa 1100-1500) saw the introduction of French and Latin vocabulary
Early Modern English (circa 1500-1800) was shaped by the Renaissance, the Bible, and the introduction of words from other languages during colonialism
Modern English (circa 1800-present) has been influenced by technological advancements, global communication, and cultural exchange

Alphabetic script: uses the Latin alphabet with 26 letters
Phonology: 44 distinct sounds, with a focus on vowel pronunciation
Grammar:
- Word order: Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
- Tenses: Present, Past, and Future, with various aspects and moods
- Modality: uses auxiliary verbs to express degrees of possibility and necessity
Vocabulary: approximately 170,000 words, with a core of 5,000-10,000 frequently used words
Dialects: numerous regional and social variations, including American, British, and Australian English

Global language: widely used as a lingua franca for international communication
Native speakers: approximately 1.5 billion people, with 375 million native speakers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
Non-native speakers: an additional 1 billion people use English as a second language
Language of business, education, science, and entertainment: English is the dominant language in these fields, facilitating global communication and collaboration

Originated from Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain by Germanic settlers in the 5th century
Influenced by Latin, Greek, and French during the Norman Conquest of 1066
Developed into Middle English (circa 1100-1500) with the introduction of French and Latin vocabulary
Evolved into Early Modern English (circa 1500-1800) shaped by the Renaissance, the Bible, and colonialism
Modern English (circa 1800-present) has been influenced by technological advancements, global communication, and cultural exchange

Uses the Latin alphabet with 26 letters
Has 44 distinct sounds, with a focus on vowel pronunciation
Features a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order
Has various tenses (Present, Past, and Future) with aspects and moods
Employs modality using auxiliary verbs to express degrees of possibility and necessity
Comprises approximately 170,000 words, with a core of 5,000-10,000 frequently used words
Exhibits numerous regional and social dialects, including American, British, and Australian English

Functions as a global language and lingua franca for international communication
Has approximately 1.5 billion native speakers, with 375 million in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
Is used as a second language by an additional 1 billion people
Dominates the fields of business, education, science, and entertainment, facilitating global communication and collaboration