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Although English is a Germanic language, it has significant Latin influences. Its grammar and core vocabulary are inherited from Proto-Germanic, but a significant portion of the English vocabulary comes from Romance and Latinate sources.
Their language originated as a group of Ingvaeonic languages which were spoken by the settlers in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages, displacing the Celtic languages, and, possibly, British Latin, that had previously been dominant.
bilingual dictionaries, among which the Latin-English lexicons were particularly important and influential. The growing vocabulary of the English language during the Renaissance, and more particularly the import into English of words from foreign and especially classical languages, created a large new body of words that needed explaining.
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During the 5th century AD, Britain was invaded by three Germanic tribes: the Angles, Saxons and Jutes. At the time, most British inhabitants spoke a common Celtic language, but the tribes overpowered them and forced Celtic speakers to move to Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Angles spoke 'Englisc' which then evolved into 'English'. This became the ...
William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy invaded Britain in 1066 in a battle known as the Norman Conquest. This led to the spread of the Anglo-Norman dialect, which along with Latin and Anglo-Saxon became one of the most popular languages of its time. However, the ruling elite were French speakers and so English soon became the secondary language at...
The Renaissance brought about many changes to the country, including to language. Latin and Greek words and phrases became more commonplace. One of the major innovators of the English language at this time was William Shakespeare. The playwright included a wealth of Early Modern English in his sonnets and plays. In fact, Shakespeare is responsible ...
Late Modern English developed between 1800 and 2000. From 1800 English vocabulary quickly broadened whilst spelling and grammar remained unchanged. Thanks to the rise of the British Empire, advances in technology and the Industrial Revolution between 1760 and 1840, new words began to emerge. The Industrial Revolution created new means of transporta...
The English language we use today is constantly adapting and evolving to suit our fast-paced lives. Approximately 375 million people across the globe speak English and more than 50 countries have English either as their official or primary language. Studies show that 51% of Europeans speak English in addition to their mother tongue. Over one billio...
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The very earliest dictionaries of English were actually glossaries that translated Latin words into Old English, the form of English spoken before about 1100 AD. The development of monolingual dictionaries.
Old English refers to the language as it was used in the long period of time from the coming of Germanic invaders and settlers to Britain up to the Norman Conquest of 1066, and beyond into the first century of Norman rule in England.
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When did English become a dominant language?
English continued to evolve as other languages and cultures were introduced to the Anglo-Saxons. St. Augustine arrived at the end of the sixth century, leading to the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity and the influence of writing and Latin on their language.
