Formation of the British nation and the English language in the Early New

the Early New English period.
Подготовили : Сороковик Анастасия, Шеленкова Анна

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continued through to the mid-to-late 17th century. As James I

came to the throne in 1603 the English standard began to influence what was both spoken and written in the UK, including Middle Scots in Scotland. The texts made around this period are surprisingly understandable to readers today, although there are still stark differences with contemporary English. 

to it being the tongue of the country’s most important

writer. The 37 plays written by Shakespeare during this period had a great impact on the English language. While the Bard has been widely recognised as an iconic writer for his creativity, style and the complexity of his characters, he also created more than 1,500 words, many of which are common expressions still used today.

British Empire started its process of expansion, reaching its height

between the 18th and 20th centuries. By the 19th century, the British Empire was going through an era of significant change, which had a great impact on the language. The Industrial Revolution made the English vocabulary vaster, introducing words to describe new technologies. The steam engine and the consequent invention of new means of transportation, materials, and techniques, necessitated words and ideas that had never been used before

spelling rules, allowing Late Modern English to differ only slightly

from Early Modern English. Neologisms and words derived from ancient languages, such as Latin or Greek, were completing the new technological and scientific lexicon. Half of the Revolution’s research for new inventions between 1750 and 1900 was written in English, thanks in part to the contribution of another English speaking country, the USA. In the meantime, the British Empire’s immense size led to the meeting of English culture with those of its colonies, leading to the adoption of words and expressions from those countries.

so easy, which is evident in English being the third

most spoken language in the world. Considering that there are over 300 languages spoken in London alone, the creation of a new dialect — called Multicultural London English — is inevitable. Some consider it a new form of Cockney mainly spoken by the working class and young people. This dialect contains elements from a multitude of English forms, utilising new linguistic forms as well as styles of speaking, known as multiethnolects. With new words and abbreviations brought about by the internet and social media (such as ‘selfie’ and ‘LOL’) becoming commonplace in our language, it will be interesting to see what the English language will look like in years to come.