English and Korean are two languages with distinctly different origins and historical developments. Delving into the early stages of these languages involves exploring their unique ancestries — English tracing back to the West Germanic languages, and Korean tied to the Old Korean language first recorded during the Unified Silla period. 

### English Language: Origins and West Germanic Ancestry

#### Early Influences and Development
The English language, as spoken today, originated from the dialects of several West Germanic tribes, notably the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, who migrated to Britain from what is now Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. This migration began in the mid-5th century, a period marked by the decline of Roman influence in Britain. As these tribes settled and established themselves, their languages mingled with each other and with the indigenous Celtic languages, though the Germanic elements predominated.

#### Old English
The earliest form of English is referred to as Old English, which was spoken from approximately the 5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066. This period saw the language absorbing considerable influences from Norse due to Viking invasions and from Latin through Christian missionaries. Old English is fundamentally a West Germanic language, retaining core grammatical and vocabulary traits from this language family.

#### Linguistic Features
The Germanic roots of English are evident in its basic grammatical structure, morphology, and core vocabulary. Words like 'mother', 'father', 'brother', and 'house' show direct descendencies from West Germanic words. The syntax and phonology also mirror significant attributes of the Germanic language family.

#### Historical Documentation
The earliest substantial evidence of Old English can be seen in texts such as "Beowulf" and the writings of Anglo-Saxon scholars like Bede. These documents not only provide linguistic data but also insights into the life and culture of early English speakers.

### Korean Language: Early Documentation and Old Korean

#### Origins and Historical Context
The Korean language is part of the Koreanic language family, which is often considered a language isolate, meaning it has no demonstrable link to other language families, although some linguists propose connections to the Altaic languages. The early stages of Korean are represented by Old Korean, spoken during the Unified Silla period (668–935 AD).

#### Unified Silla Period and Language Documentation
During the Unified Silla period, the Korean Peninsula saw significant developments in language and culture, largely influenced by the centralization of political power and increased interaction with Chinese civilization. The earliest known examples of written Korean appear in inscriptions on monuments and in Korean Buddhist texts.

#### Linguistic Features
Old Korean left behind limited but crucial records, such as the stone inscriptions and the earliest Korean script known as _Hyangchal_. This script was primarily used to record poetry and Buddhist texts. The language displayed distinct agglutinative features, rich honorifics, and a complex system of verb endings that reflect social hierarchies and formalities, aspects that are retained to various degrees in modern Korean.

#### Continuity and Change
Through subsequent periods, namely the Goryeo (918–1392 AD) and Joseon (1392–1897 AD) dynasties, the language evolved but maintained a structural continuity. The invention of Hangul, the modern Korean alphabet, by King Sejong the Great in the 15th century marked a pivotal point in making literacy more accessible and standardizing the language.

### Conclusion
While both English and Korean have vastly different roots and evolutionary paths, their histories illustrate how languages are shaped by migrations, social changes, and cultural exchanges. Understanding the earliest stages of any language provides crucial insights into the linguistic and cultural histories of the people who speak them. These foundations continue to influence the modern versions of these languages, reflecting centuries of adaptation and change.