Latin is one of the languages that has most influenced
English since its birth as a language. In this essay we are going to approach
the Latin influence in vocabulary along the periods of the English language to
see if, without the Latin influence it would be as rich as it is now with it
and if the language would be impoverished or not.
In its beginnings, Old English did not have the large number of words borrowed from Latin and French that now form part of English vocabulary. Old English was a very flexible language capable of using old words and giving them new uses.
Latin has been the second great influence on English. It
was the language of an educated and sophisticated civilization from which the
Saxon peoples wanted to learn. The contact between these people was at first
commercial and military but then it also became religious and intellectual.
Before going to England the Germans had already had contact with the Romans and
of course, from this contact they acquired some Latin words. When Christian was
introduced in England, the people living there adopted many Latin elements.
