Events that Shaped English

The English language has been created and shaped slowly over thousands of years. Adjustments and loanword have been created. Moreover, different events have formed and shaped the language probably the most.

The Angelo-Saxons

When? The Angles, Saxons and Jutes also called the Anglo-Saxons came in the fifth and sixth centuries

Why? They settled in England and gave it its name – Engla land(“Land of the Angles”)

How? Their Old English contained many of today’s basic words such as; you, is, the and that.

1066 and after

When? The battle of Hastings in 1066

Why? William the Conqueror defeated Harold Godwinson. Old English broke down and Middle English became quite similar.

How?  About 10 000 loanwords from the French ruling class and elite.

Scandinavian Settlement

When? Scandinavian invader came to Britain in the middle of the 9^th century.

Why? They invaded Britain and Norse had a great influence on English.

How? Both Norse and English were very similar, because they were both Germanic languages. Basic words such as “take” and “they” are borrowed from Norse.

Standardization

When? The late medieval and early modern periods.

Why? London English became associated with knowledge and spelling became standardized. In addition, the pronunciation occurred.

How? The Middle English changed so that the Modern English became reality.

Colonization and Globalization

When? When the colonization started and the globalization is ongoing right now.

Why? All the colonies spread all over the world made English a global language.

How? English is today a world-spoken language. Probably the most widely spoken and it’s a very important language as either first or secondary language