History of English

Old English was spoken in England from roughly 450 to 1100 AD. It was brought by Anglo-Saxon settlers and sounds very different from modern English. Much of its vocabulary is Germanic and it used complex inflections.

Middle English lasted from about 1100 to 1500. After the Norman Conquest of 1066, French and Latin influenced the language heavily. Grammar simplified and many new words entered English, setting the stage for more recognizable forms.

Early Modern English spans roughly 1500 to 1700, including Shakespeare's time. The printing press helped standardize spelling and grammar. Vocabulary expanded with borrowings from Latin, Greek, and languages of exploration.

Late Modern English, from around 1700 to the present, saw huge growth in vocabulary due to science, industry, and empire. Dictionaries and grammars codified rules, and English began to spread globally as a lingua franca.

English varieties developed worldwide through colonization, trade, and cultural exchange. Regional dialects, accents, and local expressions reflect this diversity. World Englishes continue to evolve in places like India, Australia, and Nigeria.

English grew from Old English through Middle and Early Modern stages into the global language we know today. Its history of contact and change explains why English vocabulary and grammar are such a rich blend.