Here's why:
* Old English (the language of the Anglo-Saxons) was spoken until around 1150.
* Middle English emerged after the Norman Conquest (1066), which brought French as the language of the ruling class. This led to a blend of Old English, Norman French, and other influences.
* Modern English began to form around the 15th century, evolving from Middle English.
Key features of Middle English:
* Less standardized: There were significant regional variations in pronunciation and grammar.
* Influenced by French: Many French words and grammatical structures became part of Middle English.
* Sounds and Grammar: Middle English had different vowel sounds and grammatical rules compared to Modern English.
* Famous Literature: Many iconic works of English literature, like Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," were written in Middle English.
So, while you wouldn't understand a spoken conversation from the fourteenth century, you might recognize some words and even basic structures if you were familiar with the Middle English period.