English is from England, though its roots lie in the Germanic languages spoken by peoples who migrated to Britain.
Here's a breakdown:
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Origins: The English language evolved from the dialects and vocabulary of Germanic tribes—primarily the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes—who settled in Britain starting in the 5th century CE. These tribes originated from areas in what is now northern Germany and southern Denmark.
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Development in England: The Germanic languages brought to Britain mixed and evolved over time, influenced by contact with Celtic languages and, later, Latin (due to the Roman presence and subsequent Christianization of England). This evolving language became what we now know as Old English.
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Subsequent Influences: While the base of English is Germanic, it has been heavily influenced by other languages throughout its history, most notably Norman French after the Norman Conquest in 1066. Dutch, Latin, and numerous other languages have also contributed.
Therefore, while the ancestral languages of English originated in areas that today are part of Germany, the English language itself developed and evolved in England. The location of this evolution is why we consider it "from England."
