The history of English development

In the early days, four Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians) immigrated to England, and English was passed down from their language changes. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, around 449 AD, King Vilti of the British Isles invited his "Anglo relatives" to help him fight against the Picts, so he returned the territory of Southeast Angles. Then he sought further support, and Saxons, Angles and Jutes came one after another. Chronicles record that these "immigrants" eventually established seven kingdoms: Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Kent, Essex, Sussex and Wessex.

After the Germanic invasion, they ruled the local Celts, and the local languages mainly survived in Scotland, Wales, Kangwa and Ireland. The language of these invaders gradually formed "Old English", which is very similar to modern Frisian. English, England and East Anglia are three words developed from the vocabulary describing the Angles: English, Angelcynn and English Alan.

In the 9th century, Scandinavians invaded northern England on a large scale. At the end of the ninth century, the invaders occupied almost the whole eastern half of Britain. Scandinavians speak North Germanic. There is not much difference between North Germanic and West Germanic. Due to the invasion of Scandinavians, a large number of Scandinavian words (represented by Old Scandinavian) entered the vocabulary of Old English. There are many synonyms between ancient Norse and old English. Therefore, ancient Norse vocabulary often replaces old English vocabulary in English vocabulary.

1066 for 300 years after the Norman conquest, the king of England only spoke French. So a large number of French words entered Old English, and Old English itself lost most of its twists and turns, forming Middle English. The vowel movement around 1500 transforms Middle English into modern English. The most famous literary work in Old English is Beowulf, while the most famous literary work in Middle English is Canterbury Tales.

Modern English began to flourish in Shakespeare's time. Some scholars divided it into early modern English and late modern English, and the dividing line was about 1800. With the British occupation and colonization of most parts of the world, the local language has greatly influenced the development of English.

First, the period of Old English-from 449 to 1 100.

There are four main dialects in Old English:

(1) Northumbria dialect-the dialect north of Humber River;

② Mercia dialect-a dialect between Humber River and Thames River in central England;

(3) Kent dialect-Zhuren dialect living in southeast England;

④ West Saxon dialect-the dialect south of the Thames. Northumbria and Greece are also called Anglian dialects, which are dialects in areas where Angles live.

Second, the Middle English period-1100 to 1500.

Third, the period of modern English (MOD E.)-AD 1500 to present;

The modern English period is subdivided into:

(1) Early Modern English Period-A.D. 1500 to 1700;

(2) Late Modern English-1700 till now.