How Did Old English Language Change Over Time

The English language has gradually changed over time. Beginning with Old English, proceeding with Middle English, and eventually Modern English. Although English now sounds and looks nothing like it did back in the Old English language, many of modern day English words originate from Old English. In comparison to Modern English, Old English was a very complex language. Throughout history many things have contributed to the change in the English language.

In 400 CE, Germanic tribes began invading England. By 900 CE the people of England spoke Old English, or Anglo-Saxon. Around the seventh Century, a vowel shift took place in Old English pronunciation in which vowels began to be pronounced more to the front of the mouth. The main sound affected was "i", whereas it sounded more like a "u" due to the German languages influence. Due to the
The Normans bequeathed over 10,000 words to English including a huge number of abstract nouns, predictably, many of them related to matters of crown and nobility, of government and administration, of court and law, of war and combat, of authority and control, of fashion and high living, and of art and literature. "French scribes changed the common Old English letter pattern "hw" to "wh", largely out of a desire for consistency with "ch" and "th", and despite the actual aspirated pronunciation, so that hwaer became where, hwaenne became when and hwil became while. A "w" was even added, for no apparent reason, to some words that only began with "h"."(Luke Mastin). While humble trades kept their Anglo-Saxon names, the more successful trades took on french names. The french language not only replaces much of the vocabulary, but also changed the pronunciation of the remaining Anglo-Saxon language to a much softer Francien dialect. In the second half of the 12th Century, many more Francien words from central France were used in addition to their Anglo-Norman