1. Old English (c. 450 - 1150): This period is marked by the arrival of Germanic tribes (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) in Britain, influencing the language that evolved from earlier Germanic dialects. Notable features include:
* Stronger grammatical structure: using inflections to show grammatical relationships.
* Vocabulary: more closely related to other Germanic languages.
* Literary examples: the epic poem *Beowulf*, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
2. Middle English (c. 1150 - 1485): This period sees significant changes due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 and the influence of Norman French.
* Grammatical simplification: loss of many inflections.
* Borrowing of French words: a large influx of French vocabulary.
* Literary examples: *Canterbury Tales* by Chaucer.
3. Early Modern English (c. 1485 - 1700): This period is marked by the standardization of the language through the printing press and the rise of Shakespeare.
* Further grammatical simplification: more like modern English.
* Vocabulary expansion: including words from Latin and Greek.
* Literary examples: Shakespeare's plays.
4. Modern English (c. 1700 - present): This is the period we live in.
* Continued vocabulary expansion: especially through scientific and technical terms.
* Influence of American English: a significant impact on modern English, particularly vocabulary.
* Global spread of English: leading to regional varieties and dialects.
It's important to remember that these periods are not distinct, but rather overlapping and fluid. There are also sub-periods within each main period.