How did English evolve? - Entry #3

If you are a Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or French speaker, have you ever wondered why English has some words which are so similar to some words in your own language, when it is supposed to be a language of Germanic origins? Here is the answer:

By the year 400 C.E. the Romans protected the British Isles from Barbarian Saxon tribes. But then the Roman Empire crumbled and Germanic tribes invaded the isles. Anglo-Saxon became the main language, Old English. In 700 C.E. Viking invasions began up to the point in which the isle was divided in half, with Saxons on one side and Danes on the other. Vikings spoke Old Norse which mixed with the language. The Norman Conquest occurred in 1066 C.E. and Normans brought their language with them, Old French. A Norman king was placed on the throne, William the Conqueror. Time went by and French became the language of aristocracy. Latin also influenced the language thanks to clergymen brought by the Normans. Language continued changing and it expanded. Today words related to government come mainly from Old French, so today sophisticated language is of French origin. Undoubtedly, the words we use evoke different feelings. This is related to the roots of the words, whether they are of Anglo-Saxon origin, Norse, French or Latin.