History of English Language in 10 Minutes

Introduction

• The English Language’s history is vast and rich, evolving over

1500 years.
• Its journey comprises multiple influences, invasions, and inno-
vations.

The Anglo-Saxon Era

• English Language’s roots can be traced back to the departure

of the Romans from Britain.
• Germanic tribes such as the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes began
settling in Britain.
• The term “Anglo-Saxon” is derived from the Angles and Sax-
ons.
• Romans left behind infrastructure like roads but not much of
their Latin language.
• The Anglo-Saxon vocabulary was simple, with words like
‘house’, ‘woman’, and ‘werewolf’.
• Days of the week like Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Fri-
day were named after Anglo-Saxon gods.

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Influence of Christianity and Vikings

• Christian missionaries brought Latin words into the language.

• Latin introduced words like ‘martyr’, ‘bishop’, and ‘font’.
• Vikings introduced words such as ‘drag’, ‘ransack’, and ‘die’.

The Norman Conquest

• In 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England, introducing

French and Latin words.
• Words like ‘judge’, ‘jury’, ‘evidence’, and ‘justice’ have French
origins.
• The commoners spoke English while the elite and the church
used French and Latin respectively.

The Shakespearean Impact

• William Shakespeare introduced approximately 2,000 new

words and phrases.
• Words like ‘eyeball’, ‘puppy dog’, ‘anchovy’, ‘dauntless’, and ‘be-
smirch’ are credited to him.
• His works reflected the vast expressive capability of the En-
glish language.

The King James Bible

• In 1611, a new translation of the Bible was introduced.

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 • This translation made religious texts accessible to common
people.
• It introduced common phrases like “a leopard can’t change its
spots” and “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”.

The Rise of Scientific English

• The 17th century marked the rise of scientists like Robert

Hooke, Robert Boyle, and Isaac Newton.
• The need for new scientific terminology led to words like ‘acid’,
‘gravity’, and ‘electricity’.

English and Empire

• The British Empire introduced English to various parts of the

world.
• English borrowed words like ‘barbecue’ from the Caribbean,
‘yoga’ from India, and ‘voodoo’ from Africa.

The Age of the Dictionary

• Lexicographers aimed to standardize English spelling and def-

initions.
• Dr. Johnson’s “Dictionary of the English Language” was a major
contribution, followed by the Oxford English Dictionary.

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American English

• English evolved differently in America due to influences from

Native Americans and immigrants.
• Words like ‘raccoon’, ‘cookies’, ‘pizza’, and ‘mafia’ found their
way into American English.

The Age of the Internet

• The advent of the internet brought about a new form of En-

glish.
• Abbreviations like ‘LOL’, ‘IMHO’, and ‘BTW’ became popular.
• The internet age saw a blend of typed and spoken English.

Global English

• English has been influenced by over 350 languages.

• With 1.5 billion speakers worldwide, various forms like ‘Hinglish’
and ‘Chinglish’ have emerged.
• The global nature of English suggests that its association with
England might reduce in the future.

Conclusion

• The evolution of the English language is a testament to its

adaptability and resilience.

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• From its Anglo-Saxon roots to its global presence, English con-
tinues to grow and adapt, reflecting the changing dynamics of
human civilization.