John D. Villanueva, Jr.

ABEL 108
III ABEL B Mrs. Regina Santos

Working Paper #1

The History of English Language

The history of English is conventionally, if perhaps too neatly, divided into three periods usually
called Old English (or Anglo-Saxon), Middle English, and Modern English. The earliest period begins with
the migration of certain Germanic tribes from the continent to Britain in the fifth century A.D., though no
records of their language survive from before the seventh century, and it continues until the end of the
eleventh century or a bit later. By that time Latin, Old Norse (the language of the Viking invaders), and
especially the Anglo-Norman French of the dominant class after the Norman Conquest in 1066 had begun
to have a substantial impact on the lexicon, and the well-developed inflectional system that typifies the
grammar of Old English had begun to break down.

Old English (450-1100 AD)

Old English / Anglo-Saxon (nglisc) Old English was the West Germanic language spoken in the
area now known as England between the 5th and 11th centuries. Speakers of Old English called their
language Englisc, themselves Angle, Angelcynn or Angelfolc and their home Angelcynn or Englaland.

Middle English (1100-1500)

Middle English (ME) is collectively the varieties of the English language spoken after the Norman
Conquest (1066) until the late 15th century; scholarly opinion varies but the Oxford English Dictionary
specifies the period of 1150 to 1500.

Modern English

Modern English (sometimes New English or NE[3] as opposed to Middle English and Old English)
is the form of the English language spoken since the Great Vowel Shift in England, which began in the late
14th century and was completed in roughly 1550. English was adopted in regions around the world, such
as North America, the Indian subcontinent, Africa, Australia and New Zealand through colonization by the
British Empire.
Reaction:

From the time the English Language came to life up to the day that English became a big part of
every mans life however, almost all of us dont even know where this language originally came from. Its
amazing knowing that a language also have its beginnings, that a language can grow, change and dies.

Before English became our Universal language, it undergone many stages, changes, and
improvements. English is known as the Old English or the Anglo-Saxon first. In this period (450 1100
A.D.), the language is really difficult to understand however, about a half of the English words are rooted
in the Old English. From Old English to Middle English (1100-1500) where it became the language of Royal
Court and in 14th century English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added.

Despite of the changes done, the language is still difficult to understand by the native English
speakers and of course by the foreign speakers. After the two periods of the English the language grew,
developed, and spread continuously around the world. The Modern English made its way to be
understand by all speakers, this language adopted foreign words from many countries. Modern English
claimed its success through becoming the worlds Universal Language. English is now widely spoken and
it also became an academic subject that almost all countries taught this language to every generations.