History of English Language

By maiyaschmidt
  • Period: 450 to 1100

    Old English

    Billingsgate- A bad word
    Elflock- Tangled Hair
    Expergefactor- Something to wake you up such as an alarm clock
  • 580

    Suspected date of Beowulf's writing

    Suspected date of Beowulf's writing
    The first known writing in Old English literature.
  • 700

    Vikings in British Isles

    Vikings in British Isles
    The Vikings in The British Isles brought multiple different languages together. The immigrants that came brought germanic language which also can b known as Old English
  • 871

    Alfred the Great becomes King of Wessex

    Alfred the Great becomes King of Wessex
    When Alfred the Great became King of Wessex he encourages English as the language but wanted to incorporate Latin.
  • 871

    The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

    The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
    This was a series of Chronicles in Old English, this helped people know how to pronounce Old English and help people today see what Old English was like Along with Beowulf's writings.
  • 1066

    The Norman Invasion

    The Norman Invasion
    During the Norman Invasion, The normans brought new French words. This created the lower class to speak English and the Upper class to speak French. English eventually became the dominant language in Britain and French words were incorporated into the English which then created the language "Middle English".
  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    Middle English

    Din- Harsh Noise
    Gilded- Covered or made in gold
    Apprise- Inform People
  • 1215

    Magna Carta

    Magna Carta
    A failed treaty to create peace among sides
  • 1342

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
    Some of the most important work done in the time, it tells about how life was in those years
  • 1362

    The Statute of Pleading

    The Statute of Pleading
    The Statue of Pleading changes main language from French to English
  • 1384

    John Wycliffe

    John Wycliffe
    John Wycliffe wrote the English version of the Bible. This is important because the Bible is one of the most read books around and it is a changing moment to have it written in English
  • 1450

    The Printing Press

    The Printing Press
    The creation of the printing pressed changed a lot about the English language, the language finally was able to be standardized, grammar and spelling could be fixed. Books finally became cheaper, and prints were made easier
  • Period: 1500 to

    Early Modern English

    Hellacious, Cringe, Stan

  • The Discovery of North America

    The Discovery of North America
    The discovery of North America made different distinct types of English. When they got to America they realized different places speak English but pronounce it different ways

  • First Newspaper

    First Newspaper
    The first news paper was written in English, this is a big step in the language because if can finally be spread in writing

  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio
    The publication of Shakespeare's First Folio is important because it founded Early Modern English. This is the language closest to ours today and is one of the reason our language is the way it is today

  • The American Revolution

    The American Revolution
    The American Revolution helped the English language and really formed how it is today.

  • First English Settlement in South Africa

    First English Settlement in South Africa
    The first English settlement in Cape Cod, South Africa.This mean the English community is growing
  • Period: to

    Late Modern English

  • United States ends slavery

    United States ends slavery
    The United States ends slavery, this is a big step because the slaves get to finally learn and get educated and the English language grows