Old English (Anglo-Saxon)
* The foundation of the English language, it provides the core vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure.
* Words like "house," "bread," "father," "mother," "friend" are all of Old English origin.
Old Norse
* Introduced by Viking invasions, Old Norse brought words related to war, law, and seafaring, like "berserk," "skull," "knife," "husband," and "anger."
* It also influenced English grammar, leading to the use of "you" instead of "thou" as the singular pronoun of address.
Latin and French
* The Norman Conquest of 1066 brought a huge influx of French vocabulary into English.
* Many words related to government, law, religion, and culture are of French origin, such as "government," "justice," "church," "beauty," and "gentleman."
* Latin, the language of learning and scholarship, also contributed significantly to English vocabulary, especially in the areas of science, philosophy, and literature.
Greek
* Like Latin, Greek influenced English through the revival of classical learning during the Renaissance.
* Many scientific and technical terms, as well as philosophical concepts, are derived from Greek, like "atom," "democracy," "philosophy," and "hypothesis."
Other Languages
* English continues to borrow words from other languages, including:
* Dutch: "boss," "dock," "cruise"
* Italian: "pizza," "studio," "opera"
* Spanish: "siesta," "plaza," "tornado"
* Arabic: "algebra," "alcohol," "coffee"
* Hindi: "jungle," "bungalow," "loot"
In conclusion, it's more accurate to say that English has been shaped and enriched by contact with other languages, rather than one language "helping" another. This process of language evolution has led to the diverse and vibrant English we know today.