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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

When did english became a language as such?

if you consider the discrepancy between the beowulf and contemporary english you can then readily see how the english language has been changing for a long time.

my question is when do you consider english as a language close enough to be understood now by nearly everyone.
  

Top answer

The english language has gone through 4 major phases: Old English (450-1100 AD), Middle English (1100-1500 AD), Early Modern English (1500-1800 AD), Late Modern English (1800 -Present). Middle English is certainly decipherable (see the works of Chaucer), although significantly different from what know today. I'd say a safe bet would be Early Modern English .

— McNabb

  • The english language has gone through 4 major phases: Old English (450-1100 AD), Middle English (1100-1500 AD), Early Modern English (1500-1800 AD), Late Modern English (1800 -Present).
  • Middle English is certainly decipherable (see the works of Chaucer), although significantly different from what know today.
  • I'd say a safe bet would be Early Modern English .
  • By 1500 AD the printing press was in wide use in Europe, thereby leading to the standardization of the english language.
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1 Answers
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The english language has gone through 4 major phases: Old English (450-1100 AD), Middle English (1100-1500 AD), Early Modern English (1500-1800 AD), Late Modern English (1800 -Present).

Middle English is certainly decipherable (see the works of Chaucer), although significantly different from what know today. I'd say a safe bet would be Early Modern English. By 1500 AD the printing
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