English is a West Germanic language that originated from Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain in the mid 5th to 7th centuries AD by Anglo-Saxon migrants from what is now northwest Germany, west Denmark and the Netherlands. The language has undergone major changes and developments in its pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and orthography throughout its over 1500 year history. This article provides an overview of the key influences and developments that have shaped the English language into its present global form. It examines the linguistic influences of Celtic, Norse, French, Latin, Greek and other languages on English. It also explores the impact of historical events, the growth of literacy, the invention of the printing press, dictionary compilation and standardized spelling on the development of English. The analysis shows that English has an unparalleled capacity to absorb, adapt and incorporate words and features from other languages. Through the early spread of English around the British Isles, and later via 19th and 20th century colonization and globalization, English has become the most widely spoken language worldwide with over 1.35 billion speakers.

English language, language development, linguistic influences

Freeborn, D. (1998). From Old English to Standard English. London: Macmillan Press, p.25

Barber, C., Beal, J.C. & Shaw, P.A. (2012). The English Language: A Historical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.3

Baugh, A.C. & Cable T. (2002). A History of the English Language Fifth Ed., London: Routledge, p.79

Pyles, T. & Algeo, J. (1993) The Origins and Development of the English Language 4th Ed. San Diego:Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers, p.66-71

Barber, C., Beal, J.C. & Shaw, P.A. (2012). The English Language: A Historical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.175

Lerer, S. (2007). Inventing English., New York: Columbia University Press, p. 104

Crystal, D. (2002). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 32

Baugh, A.C. & Cable T. (2002). A History of the English Language Fifth Ed., London: Routledge p.136

Barber, C., Beal, J.C. & Shaw, P.A. (2012). The English Language: A Historical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 204

Freeborn, D. (1998). From Old English to Standard English. London: Macmillan Press, p.121

Barber, C., Beal, J.C. & Shaw, P.A. (2012). The English Language: A Historical Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 241

Lerer, S. (2007). Inventing English. New York: Columbia University Press, p. 192

Baugh, A.C. & Cable T. (2002). A History of the English Language Fifth Ed., London: Routledge p.178

Crystal, D. (2002). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 109

Pyles, T. & Algeo, J. (1993) The Origins and Development of the English Language 4th Ed. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers, p.226