The English scholar Henry Sweet (1845-1912) the author of a number of works on the English Language an on its history, proposed the following division of the history of English according to the state
The English scholar Henry Sweet (1845-1912) the author of a number of works on the English Language an on its history, proposed the following division of the history of English according to the state of unstressed endings:
1st period, Old English -the period of full endings: This that any vowel may be found in an unstressed ending for example, the word sin3an ‘sing’ has the vowel [ a ] in its unstressed ending, while the word “sunu” ‘son’ has the vowel “u” in a similar position.
2nd period, Middle English - the period of levelled endings. This means that vowels of unstressed endings have been levelled under a neutral vowel (something like [ ∂ ]), represented by the letter. -e. Thus Old English, sin3anyields Middle English singeu, sunu- sune.
3rd period, Modern English - the period of last endings. This means that the ending is last altogether. Thus Middle English singen become Modern English ‘sing’. Middle English sone become Made E. ‘son’.
Prof. Arakin’s and Ilyish’s divisions into four periods (or three) is based on the social and political development of the era.(British Isles).
I. Early English Period (1-7th centuries, from ancient English tribes to English Peopleness).
II. Old English Period (7-11th, period of formation of English People).
III. Middle English Period (11-15th, period of from English Peopleness - to the formation of English nationality.
IV. New English Period (16-20 centuries, a ) Early New English - Period of Formation English National language, b) Late New English - English National Language.
