Summary

English has the characteristics of dazzling flexibility and an extraordinary power to absorb, so new dialects of English are evolving all the time all over the world.

Modern Friesian and modern English can both be traced back to the same family, the Germanic family of languages. The West Germanic tribes took their language with them to the territory of modern England in 5^th century. In the year 491 Germanic invaders laid siege and slaughtered the celts, which lived there. The only way to survive for celts was to become part of the invaders tribes to adopt their culture and their language.

English took its first steps away from its tribal roots with revival of Christianity. Within 7^th century Christians built churches and monasteries and Christian missionaries brought the language of the Christian religion, Latin, in the country. Latin terms became part of the English and English took the script from the Latin.

The runic letters could be carved into stone or wood, so runes were mainly used for short practical massages or graffiti. The Latin alphabet allows words to be easily written on the parchment, so books could be widely circulated. Books of the Bible were translated, laws of lands were written down.

The first great poem written in English was “Beowulf”. It told us about the glory days of the Germanic tribes. This poem shows us a specific poetic energy that is in the language.

Vikings coming on these lands in 7^th century started to destroy churches, which were no more than treasure-house. The great library in Lindisfarne was burn to the ground with its books in it. Only Alfred, the Wessex king, could defended his kingdom.

In 1066 William Duke of Normand sailed to claim English throne. The first king who spoke French was William I the Conqueror, thus modern English involve a lot of  French words.

In conclusion, English started as a tribal dialect seemingly isolated in a small England, but now it circles the globe.