ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of English

Okay kiddo, let me explain the history of English in a simple way. English is a language that people use to talk, read, and write. It has changed a lot over time because of different people speaking it and new ideas being added.

Long, long ago, people spoke many different languages, and one of them was called Old English. It was spoken in England about 1,000 years ago. Old English was different from the English we speak today, because it had different words and grammar rules.

Over time, England was invaded by people from other countries like France and Denmark, and they brought their own languages with them. This meant that Old English started to change and become mixed with different words from other languages.

This new version of English is called Middle English, and it was spoken in England about 500 years ago. People like William Shakespeare wrote plays and books in Middle English, using many of the words that we still use today.

As time went by, English continued to change and evolve. This is because people were traveling to different countries and bringing back new words and ideas. The language also reached other parts of the world, like America and Australia, and these countries began to develop their own versions of English.

Finally, English became the language that we know today. It has become a global language that is spoken by millions of people around the world. It is constantly changing and growing, as people continue to use it in new ways and add new words to it.

So, that is the story of how English came to be the language that we use today. It has a long and fascinating history, and it continues to evolve and change with each passing day.