Eli5: Why is English comprised of so many different languages? And why aren’t English speakers still speaking in old English, or an even older language?
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I guess it has a lot to do with the Roman and Viking invasions as well as the Norman conquest amongst others. I’d also bet the British empire played a part, not only did they collect artefacts but words too. I believe the words ‘pyjamas’ and ‘bamboozle’ are from India. I’m sure someone with proper knowledge can explain this better but there was a time in British history where the nobility spoke french but the peasants did not, which is why we have different words for animals and meat, the peasants worked with the animals, pigs, cows, sheep for example and the nobility ate meat, pork (porc), beef (boeuf) and mutton (mouton). I believe it’s why we also have multiple words for the same thing, such as small (English) and little (French), big (English) and large (French). Again I’m no expert so please do point out anything that’s not accurate.
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