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There are many things that make up our identity (or identities).
The English language is a very important (and big) part of our culture. It is like a living thing, constantly changing with its environment.
Over the last two thousand years English has adapted to (and become enriched by) the variety of people who have come to Britain with their different ways of speaking. Find out more here.
Discover where some of our words have come from.
See what our language might look like without these influences.
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 What about food? What we eat has also been influenced by our contact with other cultures. Look at the chart below to see how the language has been enriched by the changing tastes of the people of Britain.
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Food |
Drink |
| Old English |
Cucumber, mussel, butter, bread, fish |
Beer, wine, water |
| Middle English |
Venison, pheasant, crisp, cream, bacon, biscuit, toast, pastry, jelly, ham, veal, mustard, beef, mutton, meat, cheese |
Claret, ale |
| 1500 |
Melon, pineapple, mushroom, salmon, partridge |
Syllabub |
| 1600 |
Omelette, tomato, curry, chocolate, banana, macaroni, caviar, potato, turkey, scone |
Tea, sherry, coffee |
| 1700 |
Avocado, muffin, vanilla, pasta, yoghurt |
Gin, port, champagne, brandy |
| 1800 |
Spaghetti, ice cream, kipper, sandwich, jam |
Tequila |
| 1900 |
Tacos, quiche, pizza, tuna, hamburger, mousse, grapefruit, chips, mayonnaise, ravioli |
Coca Cola, soda water |
Read our short history of immigration to Britain.
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