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2. English in the World
2.1. History of the English Language
A short history of the origins and development of English.
The history of the English language really started with the arrival of three Germanic
tribes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD. These tribes, the Angles, the Saxons and
the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from what today is Denmark and northern Germany. At that
time the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic language. But most of the Celtic speakers were
pushed west and north by the invaders - mainly into what is now Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The Angles came from England and their language was called Englisc - from which the words
England and English are derived.
Germanic invaders entered Britain on the east and south coasts in the 5th century.
2.2. Old English (450-1100 AD)
The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which in Britain developed into
what we now call Old English. Old English did not sound or look like English today. Native
English speakers now would have great difficulty understanding Old English. Nevertheless,
about half of the most commonly used words in Modern English have Old English roots. The
words
be
,
strong
and
water
, for example, derive from Old English. Old English was spoken until
around 1100.
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