• Old English and Modern English are two different stages in the development of the English language that include several periods of change and evolution. Old English refers to the language spoken in England from the 5th to the 11th century, and it was heavily influenced by Germanic languages. Old English grammar, vocabulary, and spelling are quite different from contemporary English, and it is hard for modern readers to comprehend it without special training.
• In contrast, Modern English refers to the language spoken from the 16th century to the present day. It has undergone many changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, such as the Great Vowel Shift in the 15th and 16th centuries, which altered the pronunciation of vowel sounds. Modern English has also borrowed words from other languages, such as French, Latin, and Greek, and those words have become a part of the English language. Today, Modern English is the lingua franca of the world, and it is spoken by millions of people across the globe.
• Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was spoken in England from the 5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066. It was a Germanic language and was very different from modern-day English. New English, on the other hand, is the language that we speak today. It has evolved over time and has been influenced by many other languages, including Latin, French, and German. Some of the major differences between Old English and New English include changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. For example, Old English had complex inflections and a much smaller vocabulary than modern English. Additionally, Old English pronunciation was very different from modern English, and many words were pronounced differently.
• New English (also known as Modern English) emerged in the late Middle Ages and has been evolving ever since. It has simplified grammar, fewer inflections, and a vocabulary that has been enriched by borrowings from other languages, especially Latin and French.
• Some examples of Old English words and their modern English equivalents are:

  • Beowulf (Old English) = Hero (Modern English)
  • Ealdorman (Old English) = Earl (Modern English)
  • Fæder (Old English) = Father (Modern English)
  • Hwæt (Old English) = What (Modern English)
    • Overall, the main difference between Old English and New English is their vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.