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How did the "Standard English" in Britain come into being? The story behind history!
Standard English as a language form, its origin and evolution process reflects the historical background and cultural changes of British society. Today's standard English is not only a simple communication tool for language, but also the result of the integration of various social, political and cultural ties.
The Origin of Standard English
As a Western Germanic language, English originated from the Anglo-Friesians from present-day Germany and northern Netherlands. With the arrival of these German immigrants, their dialects were exchanged with the common Britton language spoken on the British Isle at the time. The Roman invasion also had an impact on the formation of this language that should not be underestimated.
"The grammatical structure of English and its vocabulary are undoubtedly influenced by other languages, especially Roman and later French."
The original Old English had a diverse dialect characteristic, which mainly reflected the development of different Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in England. With the increase in Latin influence and the rule of the Normans, English gradually formed a hybrid.
Dimensionality and Standardization of Dialects
The English language and dialects and accents are rich, and the English languages in various places reflect local culture and history. These dialects not only have obvious differences in pronunciation, but also have their own characteristics in terms of verbs and grammar.
"Like in the mid-15th century, there were about 500 different spelling methods in Britain at the same time."
Due to geographical, social and historical influences, the standard languages in Britain gradually replaced local dialects in education, law and government, and in this process, London dialects played an important role in promoting them.
Evolution of Standard English
Earing the printing era, literati such as Chaucer and George Hubble began to write unified language forms, allowing civilians to more easily access formal English.
"William Kexton's printing invention is an important step in standardization of English."
With the creation and printing of classic literary works, the standardization of language use has been further strengthened, and various variants of English have gradually developed towards standardization.
Contemporary Standard English
Modern standard English is not only based on the language form of London and East Midlands, but also integrates the language characteristics of various places. With the change of society, many scholars believe that the traditional "received pronunciation" is losing its superiority and even new dialect forms emerge.
"The boundaries of standard English are becoming blurred, and the development of local accents and dialects is becoming more and more important."
The promotion of standard English by schools and social norms has made this language more popular, but there is still a lack of a clear authority to formulate rules.
The Global Impact of Standard English
British was once the largest colonial empire in the world, and this past has in part contributed to the global spread of British English, especially in Commonwealth countries, such as Australia and South Africa, where British English is still the official and academic language.
"The British government's efforts to promote English around the world have established a deep connection between the post-colonial countries and the language and culture of the UK."
In China, both British English and American English are valued, and English teaching in the UK has gradually influenced the education systems of other countries.
Reflection and the Future
The process of forming standard English undoubtedly reflects the evolution of Britain and its society. However, with the deepening development of globalization, how will standard English maintain its characteristics while reaching inclusiveness with other dialects and variants in the world?
