* Language evolves gradually: Languages don't appear overnight. They develop over centuries through constant change, borrowing, and adaptation.
* No single "start" point: English has roots in Old English, which itself evolved from Germanic languages. Tracing it back further involves tracing those roots, leading to Proto-Indo-European and beyond.
* Defining "English" is tricky: When does a dialect become a language? What if we consider its evolution across different regions and periods?
Here's a timeline of key milestones:
* 5th century AD: Anglo-Saxon tribes arrive in Britain, bringing Germanic languages that eventually evolve into Old English.
* 11th century AD: Norman Conquest introduces French influences, significantly shaping the vocabulary and grammar of English.
* 15th century AD: The printing press and the Renaissance boost literacy and standardization of English.
* 18th century AD: The Enlightenment and colonial expansion spread English across the globe.
In short: We can talk about when certain features of English emerged, or when certain languages contributed to its development. But pinpointing a single "start date" for speaking English is like asking when a baby "started" being a person - the process is gradual and complex.