Evolution of the English Language

There are four major parts to every language system: lexicon, grammar, semantics, and phonology. When linguists study a language they are most concerned with these four systems.

A language's lexicon is its vocabulary. This is the system that dictionaries are most concerned with. The lexicon of the English language is immense and constantly growing. To better understand this, it is helpful to consider the history of the English language.

English began as a Germanic dialect spoken by the Anglo-Saxons. During the Roman Empire, many Latin words were adopted into the English language through Anglo-Saxon dealings with Romans. In CE 877, England was divided in half after the Viking invasions of the Norsemen. Because of this, many Norse words were implemented into the English language. The procurement of many French words occurred in a similar manner after the Norman Conquest. The English Renaissance of the 16^th and 17^th centuries sparked new ideas which created a need for new words; many words were borrowed from Greek and Latin at that time (Roberts 33-39).

New ideas have most often created the need for new words. The Anglo-Saxons of the 5^th century were new to the concept of merchant-trading, so they borrowed Latin words for the things and concepts that were new to them. The same is true about religion and government. When the Anglo-Saxons were converted to Christianity, many Latin words were adopted. After the Norman Conquest, a change in the type of government required the implementation of many French words (Roberts 33-37).

Today, words like computer, internet, and search engine are common, but fifty years ago they were unheard-of concepts. New ideas, advances in technology in this example, continue to require additions to the English vocabulary. Dictionaries must be frequently updated in order to remain reliable sources of English's lexicon.

The second system, grammar, also evolved throughout history. A change in grammar and sound structure occurred with the introduction of Norse. The English case system was simplified in its dealings with the French after the Norman Conquest (Roberts 35-37).