Evolution of the English Language and the Emergence of “World Englishes”

Evolution of the English Language and the Emergence of “World Englishes”

As technology is bringing the world closer together, increasing the contact between peoples of different languages and cultures, the English language has established itself as the tool for communication, becoming the lingua franca of today’s globalized society. This role that English has taken can be traced back to a unique evolutionary history that should be understood on two separate levels. This first level of evolution that English has undergone is in the nature of the language itself. The language has seen an evolution through the changing of words, sayings and pronunciation that has produced a language much different then that of its antecedents. On the second level, is the process and battles the language underwent to achieve linguistic hegemony amongst other world languages.

The evolution of English into the form we know today can be traced back to the amalgamation and assimilation of many different languages and dialects on the British Isles. Linguists and historians have traced the beginning of English to an Anglo-Frisian dialect brought to Britain by a group of Germanic invaders known as the Angles, Saxons and Jutes during the 5th century AD. The invaders called their language ‘Anglisc’ and this is where the modern words English and England originate. The English of this time period is widely known as “Old English” and would be unintelligible to speakers of modern day English.

The next major step in the evolution of the English language occurred in the 10th century when French-speaking William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, invaded and conquered England. The invading Normans governed England through a French speaking bureaucracy and for ...

... middle of paper ...

...as music or television. His theory needs to be updated to address aspects of English use in areas where it is used beyond any necessary function such as business.

As we have seen, the English language has undergone a drastic transformation from its origins in the 5th century AD. The modern form of English is continuing to evolve and in the future, we may see English evolve to a point where it is unrecognizable to today’s people. The role of English in the future is uncertain, but if the world continues in the direction of globalization, English will certainly remain a global language for inter-cultural communication.

Works Cited

Kachru, Braj B., Yamuna Kachru, and Cecil L. Nelson. The Handbook of World Englishes. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2009

McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil. The story of English. New York: Penguin Books, 2003.