Change and Development in the English Language Essay - 1

Change and Development in the English Language - Essay Example The essay "Change and Development in the English Language" talks about the various socio-historical influences on the development of the Old English such as the separation of the land from the Continental influences, conversion of the English to Christianity, the assimilation of the Scandinavian colonizers on the English language, the veritable beehive of scholarly activity in England following its conversion to Christianity in the sixth century etc had pertinent linguistic effects which contributed to the development of Old English.In the development of the Old English, there were several socio-historical elements which influenced the linguistic progress of the language. The advent of the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and Frisians in the British Island in the year 449 proved to be a major event in the history of the land and the language. They occupied Great Britain and converted the major population of the land to English speakers. The following separation of the land and language of the Old English from the influences of other Continental nations and languages helped in the development of a distinctive language in Great Britain. The external influence on this language cannot be ignored. It is of paramount relevance that the conversion of the English to Christianity was one of the major socio-historical influences that shaped Old English. Christianity introduced the influence of Latin on Old English and the linking of the English culture with mainstream Europe through the Synod of Whitby.