Here's a breakdown of the influences:
* Old English (449-1150 AD): The foundation of English came from Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) who invaded Britain. Their languages were the basis of Old English, which was quite different from modern English.
* Latin: The Romans occupied Britain for centuries, leaving behind words and grammar that influenced Old English. Words like "street," "mile," and "wall" came from Latin.
* Norman French (1066 AD onwards): The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought a large influx of French vocabulary and grammatical structures to English. This is why we have so many double-word pairs (e.g., king/royal, pig/pork).
* Greek: The Renaissance saw a renewed interest in classical learning, leading to many Greek words entering English. This contributed to vocabulary related to science, philosophy, and art.
* Other Germanic Languages: Words from other Germanic languages, such as Dutch and German, also entered English.
* Modern Influences: English continues to borrow words from other languages, particularly from French, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic. This is due to globalization, trade, and cultural exchange.
Therefore, English is not a "mixture" of languages, but rather a language that has evolved and been shaped by contact with other languages over many centuries. This makes it a richly diverse and dynamic language with a fascinating history.