Welcome, specie, mutton, fact, nonsense: these are all examples of words that English has “borrowed” from other languages. English is a complex language and its ability to “borrow” words from many different languages ​​has made it very diverse. Within this diverse set of languages ​​that have influenced English, none have had as much of an influence as French. In the beginning, English was a simple, strictly verbal language with few words. This all changed during the Middle Period when the Normans invaded England. During their rule, spoken and written French had a strong influence on the still strictly verbal language that was English. This resulted in an increase in English vocabulary and the formation of modern prefixes and suffixes. The English language progressed from a primitive form of communication with just a few words to the vast and ever-evolving language it is today, a feat that would have been impossible had the Normans not invaded. In the early stages of the development of the English language, English or “Englisc” as it was called was a very basic and purely oral language. "Englisc" was the language of the Celts, who inhabited what is now modern England, until it was invaded by Julius Caesar in 55 BC. Unlike many other regions conquered by the Roman Empire, Latin was not imposed on the inhabitants of England. If the Romans thought England was worth controlling, modern English would be a Latin-based language. When the Romans left England for the last time in 450 AD, “the Celts felt themselves increasingly vulnerable to attack” (“Old English”), so they invited Jute leaders to settle on the east coast. Around this time, as the Jutes were arriving in England:...... half of the document ......events can have a huge effect on the future. Works Cited“Before English (Prehistory - c. 500AD). " The History of English. Network. 24 April 2014.< http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_before.html >“Old English (c. 500 - c. 1100).” The history of English. April 24, 2014.< http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_old.html >“Middle English (c. 1100 - c. 1500).” The History of English. April 24, 2014.< http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_middle.html >“Modern English (c. 1500 - c. 1800).” The History of English. April 24, 2014.< http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_early_modern.html >“Late Modern English (c. 1800 - Present).” The History of English. 24 April 2014.< http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_late_modern.html >S. Junkin “History of the English Language” Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, 2009.