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Just like all the other languages spoken around the world, English developed from a mixture of ancient dialects carryin with cultural elements from the civilizations that spoke them to their more modern versions as we know them today.
The oldest record of the English language was located in the Great Britain region, concluding that English has about 1500 years of history that is divided into three main periods:
1. Old English - also known as Anglo-Saxon or Saxon English and it lasted for a period of about 600 years.
The development of an Anglo-Saxon identity and language arose from the interaction between groups of people from different Germanic tribes with each other and also with British indigenous groups. Many of the British natives, over time, adopted the Anglo-Saxon culture and language and were added to the culture. Anglo-Saxons established the concept of kingdom in England, and although the modern English language owes just under 25% of its words to the Anglo-Saxon language, this percentage represents the vast majority of words used in everyday English language speech such as we know it today.
The end of this period is marked by the invasion of England by the peoples of Normandy when, consequently, the entire society, culture and local language underwent strong changes.
2. Middle English - it was the average development of the language during the period between the 11th and 16th centuries.
Guillaume de Normandie - also known as "the Conqueror" and sometimes "the Bastard" who was descended from the Viking leader Rollo - invaded England in 1066 becoming the region's first Norman king.
William I, then King of England - there called William I - installed his court and remarked lands among the nobles who came from the French region. Thus, English was removed from court in favor of the French language. As Latin continued to be the language of scholars, three languages were present in English territory. The use of these languages delineated the social strata: Latin was the language of knowledge and writing, French (actually, the Norman language and not French itself) was spoken by the ruling social group and English was the language of the others social layers. At the time, being the language of knowledge and writing, Latin enabled communication between people educated in different countries and even between members of the Christian churches in Rome and Great Britain. Latin had a great effect on the English language. Here are some examples: the Latin word "discus" has become several English words, including "disk", "dish", and "desk"; The Latin word "quietus" became the English word "quiet"; Some English names for plants like "ginger" and trees like "cedar" come from Latin; And so do some medical words like "cancer."
3. Modern English - is the modern form of the English language, recognized since the 16th century and spoken around the world today, being a very rich and alive language that does not stop growing around the world.
English has become a global language as a result of two main factors: the extent of British colonial power - which peaked in the late 19th century - and the hegemony of the United States as an economic power in the 20th century.
United States, Great Britain, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and several Caribbean countries and more than seventy countries have English as their official language, most of these countries being former colonies of England. In these places, the English language is used as a means of communication in several sectors: in government administration, in education, in the judicial system or in the mass media.
Countries that have English as a Native Language
Australia
Bahamas
United States
Grenade
Guyana
England
Scotland
Wales
Ireland
Jamaica
New Zealand
Trinidad
Countries with English as the official but not native language
Botswana
Fiji
Gambia
Ghana
Liberia
Mauritius
Nigeria
Rhodesia
Sierra Leone
Uganda
Zambia
Countries with English as the second official language
Cameroon
India
Lesotho
Maui
Malta
Namibia
Nauru
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
Swaziland
Tanzania
Tonga
Western Samoa
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