ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT OF THE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LANGUAGE A WORLD WIDE LANGUAGE A WORLD WIDE LANGUAGE

English is classified as an Indo-European language. It is part of the Germanic subfamily and is grouped with its most closely related language, Frisian, as part of the Anglo- Frisian group. Other related languages include Dutch, Flemish, and the Low German dialects.

The Roman alphabet was adopted for use in the Germanic languages, including English and German, and the Romance languages, including French and Spanish. The 26 letters of the Roman alphabet used for modern English. A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

CELTS about 1,000 BC

Words of Celtic origin Cart Cart Down Down Clock Clock Names on the map: AvonAberdeenInchcape

ROMANS about 0-400AD

Words of Ancient Latin origin Wine Wine Cheese Cheese Street Street Temple Temple Altar Altar Names on the map: LondonColchester

Three main stages are usually recognized in the history of the development of the English language (Linguists disagree on when English began). Old English, known formerly as Anglo-Saxon, is dated from AD 449 to 1066 or Middle English dates from 1066 or 1100 to 1450 or Modern English dates from about 1450 or 1500 and can be subdivided into Early Modern English, from about 1500 to 1660, and Late Modern English, from about 1660 to the present.

OLD ENGLISH Old English, a variant of West Germanic, was spoken by certain Germanic peoples who invaded Britain in the 5th century AD. They came from three very powerful nations of the Germans; that is, from the Saxones, Angli, and Iutae. St. Bede (673? - 735) English monk and scholar. (Referring to the Anglo-Saxon invaders of England).

Angles, Saxons, Jutes about AD Vikings about AD

Words of Old Norse origin Law Law Take Take Cut Cut Both Both Ill Ill Ugly Ugly Rugby Rugby

It was characterized by : -strong and weak verbs; -a dual number for pronouns (for example, a form for we two as well as for we); -two different declensions of adjectives; -four declensions of nouns; -grammatical distinctions of gender.

MIDDLE ENGLISH In 1066, William II, the 6th duke of Normandy, led the Norman Conquest of England. In 1066, William II, the 6th duke of Normandy, led the Norman Conquest of England. Anglo-Norman culture soon dominated the social structure, language, literature, and architecture of England. Anglo-Norman culture soon dominated the social structure, language, literature, and architecture of England.

MIDDLE ENGLISH The conjugation of verbs simplified: The conjugation of verbs simplified: –reduction of endings –use of a common form for the singular and plural of the past tense. The distinctions of grammatical gender replaced by those of natural gender. The distinctions of grammatical gender replaced by those of natural gender. The dative and accusative of pronouns were reduced to a common form. The dative and accusative of pronouns were reduced to a common form. The relationship between the elements of the sentence depended on word order. The relationship between the elements of the sentence depended on word order. The three or four grammatical case forms of nouns were reduced to two. The three or four grammatical case forms of nouns were reduced to two. The plural noun ending (e)s had been adopted. The plural noun ending (e)s had been adopted.

THE EARLY MODERN ENGLISH The vocabulary was enlarged by the widespread use of one part of speech for another. Other words were introduced by English travelers and merchants. The revival of interest in Latin and Greek brought new words into English from those languages. Modern English borrowed words from more than 50 different languages.

THE LATE MODERN ENGLISH In the 17th --18th centuries, grammatical changes occurred: -The formal rules of English grammar were established during that period. -The pronoun its came into use. -The progressive tenses developed. -The simple ing form of the verb remained in use, for example, The baby is crying. As a result of colonial expansion in different areas of the world, hundreds of new words came into the language. Etc.

British Empire, Early 20th Century

20 th CENTURE ENGLISH The most important development concerned vocabulary. The most important development concerned vocabulary. Thousands of scientific terms were developed to denote new concepts, discoveries, and inventions. Thousands of scientific terms were developed to denote new concepts, discoveries, and inventions. In different English-speaking countries recognizable varieties of English have developed. In different English-speaking countries recognizable varieties of English have developed.

A WORLD-WIDE LANGUAGE International Languagenatural or deliberately constructed, used to provide communications among peoples with different native language International Languagenatural or deliberately constructed, used to provide communications among peoples with different native language English has dominated as a world language, largely because of economic and political influence and the advance of technology, especially computing and the Internet.