A-Level English language Timeline

By lucyappleo
  • 55 BCE

    The Romans

    Arrived as invaders from 55 BC again very little survives directly from the Latin the Romans spoke, although the Latin had a very big influence on the language through other sources.
  • 55 BCE

    Romans Invasion of Britain by Julius Caesar

  • 43 BCE

    Romans invasion and occupation. Beginning of Roman rule of Britain

  • 436

    Roman withdrawal from Britain complete

  • 449

    Settlement of Britain by Germanic invaders begins

  • 450

    450 AD Anglo-Saxons Invade

    Germanic tribes, Jutes.
    Celts were pushed into Wales and North into Scotland.
    North Germanic language roots appear- birth of old english. Led to creation of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms.
    There are 4 Kingdoms- Northumbria, Mercia, East Angelia and Wessex.
  • 450

    Old English

    The invading Germanic tribes spoke similar languages, which is Britain developed into what we now call Old English. Old English did not sound or look like English today. Native English speakers now would have great difficulty understanding Old English. Nevertheless about half of the most commonly used words in Modern English have Old English roots. 450-1100 AD
  • 450

    Earliest known Old English inscriptions

    450-480
  • Dec 24, 793

    793 AD- Vikings first appear in England

    Lindisfarne monastery is raided and destroyed (loss of written manuscripts).
    Vikings started off by seasonal raiding however by the mid 9th century they began to stay.
    They began to seize land from the Anglo-Saxon inhabitants, Anglo-Saxon chronicles.
    Danes, Norse= Viking (meaning language)
  • Dec 24, 878

    878 AD - Battle of Edington

    Alfred, king of wessex deafeats guthrum, leader of the invading norse army.
    Results in the setting up of the Danelaw, effectively splitting England into two.
  • Sep 28, 1066

    The Normans

    Duke of Normandy invaded England, won the battle of hastings and brought Norman French to the country. The ruling class spoke French; it was the language of power and wealth, of education and law. French did not affect the grammar of English much did it have a big effect on the vocabulary. Latin at the same time became important, French and Latin were prestige languages. French did not take over English, through intermarriage the English language once became the dominant one.
  • Sep 28, 1100

    Middle English

    Normans brought with them a kind of French, which became the language of the Royal court, and the ruling and business classes. For a period there was a kind of linguistic class division, where the lower classes spoke English and the upper class spoke French. In 14th century English became more dominant again, but with many french words added.
  • Oct 20, 1350

    The Great Vowel Shift

    The Great Vowel Shift was a major change in the pronunciation of the English language that took place in England between 1350 and 1600.Through the Great Vowel Shift, all Middle English long vowels changed their pronunciation. English spelling was becoming standardized in the 15th and 16th centuries, and the Great Vowel Shift is responsible for many of the peculiarities of English spelling
  • Oct 20, 1384

    John Wycliffe

    First translation of the Bible. He was burned to death. He thought the church was lazy and priests were unable to read the lords prayer. He thought everyone should have access to the bible, he translated it in Oxford. They condemed him. It was in Latin syntax.
  • Sep 28, 1422

    The Paston Letters

    collection of letters and papers consisting of correspondence of members of the Paston family and others connected to them, and also including some state papers and other important documents.
  • Sep 28, 1476

    The Renaissance, Caxton printing press

    Introduced printing press into England. Important effect on the process of standardising the language. Caxton had to decide which words and grammar to print his books, at the same time a huge change began in the language. The way people pronounced vowel sounds began to shift. The renaissance was an influence.
  • Oct 20, 1476

    The Renaissance

    Meaning of rebirth, period of the new age for science developments and printing etc. From Italy and expanded, period of history after the fall of Rome the Dark Ages. Renaissance had importance of art, philosophy, science, literature and politics. Transformation period.
  • Sep 28, 1500

    Modern English

    Towards the end of middle english, a sudden and distinct change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter. this and the renaissance of classical learning meant that many new words and phrases entered the language, the invention of printing also meant that there was now a common language in print. Books become cheaper and more people learned to read. printing also bought standardization to english.
  • Oct 20, 1526

    William Tyndale

    Second translation of the Bible.
    Translated directly from Hybrew and Greek- didnt just go to the Latin.
    Put into our syntax.
    Translated for the common man.

  • The Millenary Petition

    Was presented by king james when he came king of england in 1603.

  • King James Bible

    King James VI of Scotland came, as James I, to the throne of england. reformers from within the church of england presented him with the millenary petition, requesting an new English translation. One problem was how to translate terms for which there was no vernacular english equivalent.

  • The Royal Society

    Royal soceity works to support excellence in science, building a home and future for science in the UK. Advancements and adventures - revolutionary advancements, conduct and communication of science

  • Samuel Johnson publishes his English dictionary

  • Late Modern English

    The main difference between early Modern English and late modern english is vocabulary. Late Modern English has many more words, arising from two principal factors; firstly the industrial revolution and technology created a need for new words; secondly the british empire at its heights covered one quarter of the earths surface, and the English language adopted foreign words from many countries.

  • Webster publishes his American English dictionary

  • Dean Workhouse

    Built in 1861, opened a year later. Workhouses were for the poor who were unable to find employment. In 1572 it was compulsory that all people pay a local poor tax. The workhouse helped feed the hungry, keep people of the streets and somewhere to stay, while working all the day in the workhouse.

  • The Oxford English Dictionary is published

  • The 18th century

    mostly known for the prescriptive standardisation of English. The 18th century valued order; they wanted the language to be orderly like gardens and architecture were made to be orderly, they wanted rules. The rules for English grammar were modelled on those of Latin, problem as Latin is not English.

  • Caxton Printing press

    William Caxton is the worlds greatest technological innovations. He printed his first book in 1473, he became quite rich and became commonly available. There was issues with spelling in major dialect divisons and spelling were different, issues with -ing, -and, -th etc.
    Spellings were standarized as the develoment of standard English caused problems. Caxton complained about what may not be understood. Spellings have different letters but sometimes the same meaning.

  • Shakespear Coinage 16th century

    Had a major influence in English Language, very big impact. It is often not clear if a word or phrase was already in existence in Shakespeare lifetime or if he invented it.