ESL Blogs

What Is The Origin of English Language?

       English language had its developmental origin in England in the 5th century AD, out of Anglo-Saxon or Old English, which was a language introduced there by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes --- three Germanic tribes which invaded Britain as at that time --- and gave England its name (meaning the land of the Angles).

    Later, towards the end of the 6th century AD, some monks came to Britain as missionaries from Rome and thereby introduced Latin words to Britain. Thus, many words were derived from Latin into the English Language.

    Then in the 9th and 10th centuries AD, some Scandinavian invaders conquered and occupied a part of England and, in the process, introduced a language called Old Norse which gave derivation to many words in modern English.

    Also in the year 1066 AD, the Normans conquered Britain and brought in the French Language. This development brought many French derivatives into the English Language.
   
       Furthermore, in the 15th and 16th centuries when there was reawakening of interest in classical learning (Renaissance), many words were derived from Greek Language and again, from Latin Language.

        From the above mentioned developments, the English language has continued to grow wider and wider, and with passage of time, has changed from one form to another. For example, about four hundred years ago, an expression like ‘whither goest thee’? would have meant ‘where are you going’? to a user of the language back then. But in today’s English, the expression is almost meaningless.

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