The History of the English Language by Risa

The article is talking about the history of the English language, from where it all started and how it has changed through time. English is not a very old language, as other ones, but either wise, it has become the global language. English first started in England and called their language “englistic” which meant that it was the idiom spoken by the Angles, people that lived in England. Until tenth century English became the language in England because of Athelstan, the grandson of Alfred the Great, which conquered most of the parts of the country. English it is a language by which words may be pronounced different by people or may have different significance when talking about something, many people nowadays, may use apostrophes in words for example in the word folks, now people say it as folk’s, this tendency may have now created a lot of changes, and would be continuing, because this is not a dead language, it still has some meanings that were used before in the old times.


The writer’s viewpoint is that English have been changing a lot through time and that it is a stress language, because people may use different accents in the words, but that is how people are accustomed to speak, English it’s a language that it is spoken in different ways all over the world, and we have to get accustomed by that, because each of us has our way of talking. The writing is made for people as teenagers, young adults, teachers and natives for them to know about their language and how it has changed in many ways by the way of speaking or writing. Its purpose is to inform about the language, that it is talked all over the world, and that many people may pronounce some words different from others. The author was very specific in each thing she said because, she is also giving examples and with some theory that may help people to understand the history of English better. Its tone is formal, because it is saying in almost all the articles facts that are happening or happened before, she didn’t omit anything and was very clear in what she said. I didn’t like very much the article, because in some parts it was really confusing and boring. I agree that English is changing through times, and that before, people may only knew a little bit, and that it was more different that from now as it is spoken and written.

The History of the English Language by Sammy Stein

'Do you speak English?'


The article is talking about how tourists now ask the question “Do you speak English?” instead of do you speak French or Spanish in countries such as Canada, England and America, and also some of the history of English and how it has changed through times.

Now English has become a global language, and this doesn’t means that all people know perfectly the English, but maybe people just know a few words of it, and may be able to communicate with other people. Words have been changed through times, especially since the Vikings conquered England words like home or fish came from their language, but we are still asking how the words where before they came into England, because there is not some written history about English language. English language is not as pure as it may sound, because also the Romans brought a set of words derived from the Latin origins, poor people had their own dialect and you could differentiate them from a distinguished person. English is unique because the words have also changed and become more “English” by their usage and meanings, for example garden, and in French is jardin. Although it has words from many other languages, the English is the second most common language used in the world and in business. The author’s viewpoint is that she thinks that English is a language that is expanding a lot through time, because it is spoken in almost all places in the world and for at least to know some words of the language. The purpose of the article is to inform about the language and its history and how it has changed through time, it is written for teachers, young adults and native speakers to know about their language history. It has a formal tone because it is explaining each thing, but also giving her examples or opinions about the language and mixing facts of the history.

It was a great article because it let me knew that English is a language that it is always changing through time, even 25 years ago many words were different from now or now they have disappeared because people stop using some of the old words. I think the author didn’t omit anything, because she was really specific in each thing she said, and I agree that English it’s the language used in almost all the world to communicate by business or any other way.

The History of the English Language by Lucy Rucker

How Did the English Language Begin?
The article is talking about the history of English, and how it changed through time. It is referred as the English language; it is one of the most complex in the entire world, due to its changing meaning words and pronunciation. It has three branches, the Old English, Middle English and Modern English. The Old English was a language created from the Anglo-Norman-French people; at difference as the Modern English, it was really difficult to understand and it was very different from now. The Middle English was created between the twelve and fifteen centuries, it was changed in some way of the meaning of words and new ones were created. Nowadays, we use the Modern English, which has some words that have changed the way of talking and spelling from the Old English.


It is made for people that want to learn about history, as teenagers, young adults and teachers or the native speakers of English, to know the history of their language. Its purpose is to inform people about the changes that English language have been passed through centuries and how, nowadays we can understand it and practice it in an easier way, although the writer thinks it is a very complex language and that it is always changing through time, people still would make the effort to learn the language to communicate with others. The tone in the text as it is shown, it may not be formal, because he is telling many opinions and saying things like: “the English is a beautiful language and everybody loves it” and he is explaining things, but in his own words or thoughts.

It was a great article and easy for me to understand it, I think he didn’t omit anything, because he was very clear at each think he said, as in which years the English was created, etc. Some ideas or words that helped me to understand the article may be that he was always saying that it was a really complex language, and that it is talked in many ways in all over the world. I agree that in some point the English could be very complex, but it is not the great thing, as to be saying that I love the language. I learned a lot, because now I know that English was divided in 3 stages, and that it is a language that it is always changing.

What should we learn, English as lingua franca or “formal” English?

 I think we should learn English as a lingua franca, because it can help us to communicate with others all around the world and it is a basically language that we have to know to help in our future businesses. By having this lingua franca language we don't have to know everything exactly as a formal English and though, it could be difficult for us, because we'll have to be born studying English, so we can learn it in a more formal way.

If people start to use it as a more formal language then the English will be all around us, and that is not fair, because we have our own language and we don't have to start learning other language as a basic one, if we are still very good learning it as a lingua franca and the basics.