3
Foreword History of the English language is one of the essential courses forming the linguistic background of a specialist in philology. It studies the uplifting
and advancement of English, its structure and
peculiarities in the old days, its similarities to other languages of the same family and its unequalled specific features. The current issue is a collection of lectures that thoroughly discusses the history of the English language and the factors influenced it in the course of history. It provides a set of examples of literary work and introduces their authors that significantly contributed to the rise and development of the English language. The collection also gives some information about the major differences between the British and American English in various respects. The study of the history of the English language will require the knowledge of related subjects. It is reccommended
mainly to university, college students as well as teachers and all learners interested in the English language.
4
What is English? A short history of the origins and development of English The history of the English language really started with the arrival of three Germanic tribes who invaded Britain during the 5th century AD.
These tribes,
the Angles,
the Saxons and the Jutes, crossed the North Sea from what today is Denmark and northern Germany. At that time the inhabitants of Britain spoke a Celtic language. But most of the Celtic speakers were pushed west and north by the invaders -
mainly into what is now Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The Angles came from Englaland and their language was called Englisc - from which the words England and English are derived. Germanic invaders entered Britain on the east and south coasts in the 5th century.
