Main Periods in the History of the English Language
The historical events that took place on the British Isles have influenced the linguistic situation in the country greatly. The table below shows the interconnection between the history and the language situation:
| Dates | Events | Population | Languages |
| Old English Period | |||
| 7th c. B.C. | Celtic Invasion | Celts | Celtic Dialects |
| 7th c. B.C. – 410 A.D. | Roman Invasion | Celts, Romans | Celtic Dialects, Latin |
| mid.5th c. – late 6th c. | Anglo-Saxon Invasion | Celts, Anglo-Saxons | Celtic Dialects, Old English Dialects! |
| Introduction of Christianity | Celts, Anglo-Saxons | Celtic Dialects, Old English Dialects, Latin | |
| after 8th c. | Scandinavian Invasion | Celts, Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians (Danes) | Celtic Dialects, Old English Dialects, Latin, Scandinavian Dialects |
| Middle English Period | |||
| Norman Conquest | Celts, Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians, Normans | Celtic Dialects, Middle English Dialects, Latin, French | |
| late 14th c. | English – official language of the country | the English | Middle English Dialects, London Dialect(standard) |
| New English Period | |||
| Introduction of Printing (William Caxton) | The English | English(New English) | |
| 16th – 17th c. | Expansion of the British Empire | The English | English – national languagespreading overseas |
| Modern English Period | |||
| 20th c. | English – a global language |
Thus, the main periods in the language evolution are (rough dates are given):
1. Old English Period– prewritten (450-700)
– written (700-1100)
During this period 1 million people spoke Old English Dialects (see short survey of this period in § 74-77, p. 50-51 in “История английского языка” by Т.А. Расторгуева (copies)).
2. Middle English Period – 1100-1500
During this period 4 million people spoke Middle English Dialects (see short survey of this period in § 78-81, p. 51-52 in “История английского языка” by Т.А. Расторгуева (copies)).
3. New English Period– 1500-1800
(see short survey of this period in § 82-85, p. 52-53 in “История английского языка” by Т.А. Расторгуева (copies)).
4. Modern English Period - ? (1945)-present time
Nowadays 300 million people speak English as a mother tongue (see short survey of this period in § 86-87, p. 53-54 in “История английского языка” by Т.А. Расторгуева (copies)).