The+English+language

English is characterized as a world language. This means in effect that English is a language spoken widely around the world. However, this was not always the case. The English language has been formed through centuries of influence, mainly from other European countries. Here is an overview of how this world language has been formed:

Early settlement:
We know very litle about the first people who lived on the British Isles. they built huge monuments (Stonehenge) some 5000 years ago. But we dont know why they built them ore even what theyr language was like.

Celts:
The first trace of language came with the celts, who came to the British Isles about 700 BC. But today only a few traces of they language can be found in the English language. However, some people in Britain stil speak Celtic or Gaelic languages, as Celtic traditions have survived in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

Romans:
In 43 AD the Roman Emperor orderd to invade Britain. So now Britain was a part of the Roman Empire. The Romans built fortresses, military roads and founded cities such as London. But since Britain was so far away from the centre of the Roman Empire, the Romans never settled, and they left in 410 AD. we stil got a few Roman words in the English language.

Anglo- Saxons:
In 449 AD, the Angels, the Saxons and the Jutes started to come from Germany and Denmark to rade Britain. They were all barbaric Germanic tribes. When they invaded, the Celts who lived there fled to Wales and Scotland. That meant that the language of the Anglo-Saxons was free to spread in the more cental parts of Britain. Soon, they developed theyr language into what today is called Old English, wich became an important basis for Modern English. With the Anglo-Saxons the farming also became more used in Brittain.

Vikings:
From 793 Norwegian and Danish Vikings started invading and settling in Brittain. Almost half the country was in Viking hands by the 9th century. The language of the people in Brittain where very similar to the language of the Vikings, therefore it is difficult to know how large the impact from the Vikings on the English language was. Today, we got at least 900 words from Scandinavian origin.

The English language is also effected by the norwegian language not many, but when the vikings was stealing and so in england they used words like bag which was a "norrønt" word, we norwegians stoped used it and used "veske" or "pose" but now the english word bag have comed back and it's in use again. I think that "Kul" is an norwegian word that used to be english before like Cool. We have just maid it more noewegian. The English language have a huge influance on us to. Like we teenagers use alot of english words like sorry, random, nice, sweet, fun, chill and so. and i hear the generation before us also us some words like this.

Normans:
After the battle of Hastings in 1066 King William of Normandy conquered England. And with the French rule, the French language came to Brittain. Fore 300 years, French was spoken in England by the King and important people in the country. Also, litterature where written in French ore Latin. But ordinary people continued to speak Old English. But some French words stil remains in the English language today.

After the Hundred Years War 1337-1554:
The hundred years war was bewen England and France, where England wanted to be free from the French rule. After the war, the English upper clas no longer wanted to speak French, because it was considerd the language of the enemy. So now they again spoke English in England.

Colonising the World:
In the 17th century, English adventurers started exploring the world. They brought welth back to England, and brought the English language around the world. It started in America, but soon continued to other counties all around the world. They even started to take over the original language in theyr colonies.

Decline the Empire:
In the 20th century, the British colonies started to want theyr freedom back. After World War II the British colonies and the British Empire came to an end.But English remaned the official language in many of these countries, and the influence of English continued to grow. But mow it's USA that have had the largest influence on the spreading of the English language worldwide.

English in the future:
People belives that in the future English will no longer be American or Brittish English, but rather a World English,European English etc. etc.We will have new rules for what will be seen as correct English, and that English speaking countries all around the world will influence the composition of the language.