Pre-English

Before we study the origin and evolution of the English language, let’s delve into the languages spoken in ancient Britain. Our focus needs to be on the years before 449 C.E., preceding the onslaught of the Germanic invaders.

It was in 55 B.C.E that the Romans led by Julius Caesar marched into Britain. The mother tongue of the local inhabitants of the country was then Celtic. They were living there since 600 B.C.E. Roman rule officially began in the nation in 43 C.E. In 436 C.E., the Romans withdrew from Britain.

The English language retains some Celtic words. E.g.: ‘Corgi’ that means ‘tiny dog’. The Latin influence on English is comparatively greater. Many English words have been derived from this classical language.

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https://pixabay.com/photos/spartan-army-sun-dusk-roman-3696073/: Picture Courtesy: Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay