Evolution from Old English to Modern English - Global English

Old English (450-1100)

Also known as Anglo Saxon - the oldest version of English language.

The Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which in Britain developed into what we now call Old English.

The words be, strong and water, for example, derive from Old English.

Middle English (1100-1500)

In 1066 William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy conquered England.

The conquerors brought with them  a kind of French, which became the language of the upper classes. In the 14th century, English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added. This language is called Middle English.

Early Modern English (1500-1800)

Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden and distinct change in pronunciation (the Great Vowel Shift) started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. From the 16th century, the British had contact with many people from around the world.

This, and the Renaissance of Classical learning, meant that many new words and phrases entered the language. The invention of printing also meant that there was now a common language in print. Printing also brought standardisation to English. Spelling and grammar became fixed, and the dialect of London, where most publishing houses were, became the standard. In 1604, the first English dictionary was published.

Late Modern English (1800-Present)

The main differences between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary. Late Modern English has many 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.

Reference: History of English, n.d., EnglishClub, englishclub.com