History of The English Language 400-2012

  • Period: 400 to 1100

    OLD ENGLISH

    About half of the most commonly used words in Modern English have Old English roots. The words: be, strong, and water, are derived from Old English.
  • 401

    Germanic Tribes invade Britain

    Three Germanic tribes invade Britain and bring over their similar language which developed into Old English
  • 600

    Anglo-Saxons are converted to Christianity

    St. Augustine and Irish missionaries set out to convert Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. New religious words are borrowed from Latin and Greek.
  • 800

    Alfred the Great uses the English language

    After Alfred the Great brought the Anglo-Saxons victory over the Vikings, he then translates Latin works into English.
  • 900

    Beowulf's Writing

    The only surviving documentation of Old English was written by an anonymous poet.
  • 1000

    The Norman Invasion

    The Norman Invasion
    The Duke of Normandy conquered England and brought a type of French that ended up being spoken by the Royal Court, and the ruling and business classes. There was even a bit of time where the division in the higher class of people spoke French and the lower classes spoke English.
  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    MIDDLE ENGLISH

    In the 14th century English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added. Some of the common words used were: al be that, everich, and forthy.
  • 1101

    Henry II Controls Ireland

    When Henry II takes control of Ireland, English is introduced to the country.
  • 1200

    University of Cambridge

    Scholars from Oxford form the University of Cambridge.
  • 1300

    English in England

    English becomes the dominant language under Edward I
  • 1400

    Chaucer's Canterbury Tales

    This results in English becoming the official language of law courts and replaces Latin in schools.
  • 1400

    The Invention of the Printing Press

    The Invention of the Printing Press
    The printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenburg. This invention was a large part of the spread of the English language.
  • Period: 1500 to

    EARLY MODERN ENGLISH

    The Great Vowel Shift started which resulted in the pronunciation of vowels becoming shorter. A couple of phrases from Shakespear: One fell swoop, vanish into thin air, flesh and blood.
  • 1501

    The Discovery of North America

    The first English settlements are built in North America by Christopher Columbus.
  • Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio

    The First Folio is considered to be the most reliable source of Shakespeare's language.
  • More English Documentation

    The 1700s had a lot of revelations in the English language. There were a number of dictionaries, English grammar books, first novels, and even the signing of the Declaration of Independence which set English as the primary language.
  • Period: to

    LATE MODERN ENGLISH (1800 - Present)

    Pronunciation of the spelling of words became much more concrete in English. Some of the common words of the 21st century are bet, cap, and fosho.
  • The American Revolution

    When America gained independence from England Noah Webster created America's first English dictionary so America could look to America for linguistic assistance.
  • Invention of the Telegraph

    Invention of the Telegraph
    Samuel Morse invents the Telegraph. This caused a rapid spread of communication and was a major influence on the usage of English.
  • Oxford English Dictionary is published.

    Over 20 volumes that encompass the English language.