* Evolution, not a sudden birth: Languages evolve gradually, not springing into existence overnight.
* No clear "beginning": We can trace the development of English back to the arrival of Germanic tribes in Britain around the 5th century AD, but even then, the language wasn't "English" as we know it.
* Multiple influences: English has been shaped by centuries of contact with other languages, including Old Norse, French, Latin, and many more.
However, we can offer some approximations:
* Old English (c. 450-1150 AD): This period saw the establishment of English as a distinct language. It's quite different from modern English.
* Middle English (c. 1150-1500 AD): This period saw significant changes, influenced by the Norman Conquest. The language became more similar to what we speak today.
* Modern English (c. 1500-present): This period saw the standardization of English, with the invention of the printing press and the rise of English as a global language.
So, while we can't assign a single birthdate to English, we can say it has been evolving for at least 1500 years. This makes it a relatively young language compared to some others, but still a language with a rich history and a complex evolution.