Language Change Context

Question 1

Old English (5th century)

Answer 1

The languages of Britain were Celtic. English developed from the speech of the Angles, Jutes and Saxons. Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse had significant influence; vocabulary being drawn from both. English was largely phonetic, with little consistency in writing.

Question 2

Middle English (11th century)

Answer 2

French was the verbal language of the court and administration ( due to the Norman invasion), whilst Latin was the written language (due to the Church). English became more prominent due to writers, such as Chaucer, using English to write, rather than French. Dialectal differences remained around the country.

Question 3

Early Modern English (15th century)

Answer 3

Caxton introduced the printing press (1476), contributing to the establishment of a standard English. The SE dialect was used as the basis for this. The popularity of English spread due to English writers and playwrights. James I commissioned the Authorised Version of the Bible.

Question 4

Modern English (18th century)

Answer 4

The English language had grown at an incredible rate, with words borrowed for Latin, Greek and further afield; the spread of the British Empire also influenced this. Grammarians began to propose correct ways of speaking and writing.

Question 5

Present English (20th century)

Answer 5

English has continued to develop and the influence of the media, technology and travel has helped to establish English as a global language.