A Brief Introduction to the Origin of English in Chinese

English originated from Anglo-Saxon, which is a dialect of West Germanic (Old Lowland). At present, English also includes some absorption of other languages and a few new words, including a large number of Latin.

How to develop English? Naturally, it is inseparable from her colonial expansion. The basic reason is also the spread of advanced technology brought by the British industrial revolution and the extensive economic development and distribution of former British colonial countries.

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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, Vilti, the king 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. Native languages mainly exist 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.

The heyday of the British empire

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 the era of william shakespeare. Some scholars divide it into early modern English and late modern English, and the dividing line is about 1800. With the occupation and colonization of most parts of the world by the British Empire, the local language has greatly influenced the development of English.