is a Germanic Language of the Indo-European Family. It is the second most spoken language in the world.

. It is the language of science, aviation, computing, diplomacy, and tourism. It is listed as the official or co-official language of over 45 countries. It is spoken extensively in other countries where it has no official status. English plays a part in the cultural, political or economic life of the following countries.
English

The history of the language can be traced back to the arrival of three Germanic tribes to the British Isles during the 5th Century AD. Angles, Saxons and Jutes crossed the North Sea from what is the present day Denmark and northern Germany. The inhabitants of Britain previously spoke a Celtic language. Most of the Celtic speakers were pushed into Wales, Cornwall and Scotland. One group migrated to the Brittany Coast of France where their descendants still speak the Celtic Language of Breton today. The Angles were named from Engle, their land of origin. Their language was called Englisc from which the word, English derives.

 Over

the centuries the British Isles were invaded and conquered by various peoples, who brought their languages and customs with them as they settled in their new lives. There is now very little Celtic influence left in English. The earliest time when we can say that English was spoken was in the 5th century CE (Common Eraa politically correct term used to replace AD).

A brief chronology of English 55 BC Roman invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar. Local inhabitants speak Celtish

AD 43

Roman invasion and occupation. Beginning of Roman rule of Britain

436 449

Roman withdrawal from Britain complete. Settlement of Britain by Germanic invaders begins

450-480 1066

Earliest known Old English inscriptions. William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invades and conquers England. Old English

c1150

Earliest surviving manuscripts in Middle English.

1348

English replaces Latin as the language of instruction in most schools.

Middle English

1362

English replaces French as the language of law. English is used in Parliament for the first time.

c1388 c1400 1476

Chaucer starts writing The Canterbury Tales. The Great Vowel Shift begins. William Caxton establishes the first English printing press.

1564 1604

Shakespeare is born. Table Alphabeticall, the first English dictionary, is published.

1607

The first permanent English settlement in the New World (Jamestown) is established. Early Modern English

1616 1623 1702

Shakespeare dies. Shakespeare's First Folio is published The first daily English-language newspaper, The Daily Courant, is published in London.

1755

Samuel Johnson publishes his English dictionary.

1776

Thomas Jefferson writes the American Declaration of Independence.

1782

Britain abandons its colonies in what is later to become the USA.

1828

Webster publishes his American English dictionary. Late Modern English

1922

The British Broadcasting Corporation is founded.

1928

The Oxford English Dictionary is published.

Old English did not sound or look like the Standard English of today. Old English began to appear in writing during the early 8th century. Most texts were written in West Saxon, one of the four main dialects. The other dialects were Mercian, Northumbrian and Kentish. The Anglo-Saxons adopted the styles of script used by Irish missionaries, such as Insular half-uncial, which was used for books in Latin. A less formal version of minuscule was used for to write both Latin and Old English. From the 10th century AngloSaxon scribes began to use Caroline Minuscule for Latin while continuing to write Old English in Insular minuscule. Thereafter Old English script was increasingly influenced by Caroline Minuscule even though it retained a number of distinctive Insular letter-forms.

Beowulf lines 1 to 11, approximately AD 900 Which, as translated by Francis Gummere, reads:

Lo, praise of the prowess of people-kings of spear-armed Danes, in days long sped, we have heard, and what honor the athelings won! Oft Scyld the Scefing from squadroned foes, from many G tribe, the mead-bench tore, in ge rdagum, Hwt! W a r-Dena awing the earls. Since erst he lay odcyninga friendless, a foundling, fate repaid him: rym gefr non, h elingas welkin, in wealth he throve, ellen fremedon. for he waxed under till before himfing folk, both far and near, sceaena r atum, Oft Scyld Sc the who house by the whale-path, heard his mandate, monegum m gum, king he! meodosetla oft ah, gave him gifts: a good egsode eorlas. Syan rest wear f asceaft funden, w ox under wolcnum, ot him ghwylc ofer hronr de gomban gyldan. h s fr fre geb d, weormyndum h, ra ymbsittendra h ran scolde, t ws g d cyning!

Middle English (ME) was the dominant and traditional spoken language form in many parts of England during the Middle Ages. Though most language historians suggest that prior to about 1000 CE, the primary language in England was Anglo-Saxon, the Norman invasion of England had significant effect on Anglo-Saxon. It gradually morphed the language into Middle English, a form almost recognizable, at least in text, as far more relative to modern spoken and written English.

Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, 14th century: Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote The droghte of March hath perced to the roote And bathed every veyne in swich licour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
From The

Modern English is often dated from the Great Vowel Shift, which took place mainly during the 15th century. English was further transformed by the spread of a standardized London-based dialect in government and administration and by the standardizing effect of printing. By the time of William Shakespeare(mid 16th - early 17th century),the language had become clearly recognizable as Modern English. In 1604, the first English dictionary was published, the Table Alphabeticall

Paradise Lost by John Milton, 1667: Of man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, Sing, Heavenly Muse, that on the secret top Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire
From

In 1755, Samuel Johnson published the first significant English dictionary, his Dictionary of the English Language The main difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary. Late Modern English has many more words, arising from two principal factors firstly, the Industrial Revolution and technology created a need for new words secondly, the British Empire at its height covered one quarter of the Earth's surface, and the English language adopted foreign words from many countries.

Taken from Oliver Twist, 1838, by Charles Dickens: The evening arrived: the boys took their places; the master in his cook's uniform stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out, and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared, the boys whispered each other and winked at Oliver, while his next neighbours nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger and reckless with misery. He rose from the table, and advancing, basin and spoon in hand, to the master, said, somewhat alarmed at his own temerity