In the course of lectures by A.I. Smirnitsky (1903-1954), a unified concept for the development of the English language in the period from the 11th century. and up to the present state. The most important changes in phonetics, grammatical structure and vocabulary are considered by the author of their systemic relationship and in unity with sociolinguistic processes. Many ideas of this course, read by A I. Smirnitsky for many years at Moscow University and at the Institute of Foreign Languages, influenced the diachronic studies of recent decades.