How Did the English Literacy and Language Evolve?

By andreakloughlin
  • Period: 55 BCE to 600

    Before English

    Early language is only a prediction by linguists. Little is known about the language that may or may not have existed in early humans (Van, 2006). Speculation supports the idea that genetics and linguistics were based upon location, and location was due to emigration (Van, 2006). Early writings suggest that language might have existed long ago in Mesoamerica, Mesopotamia and China (Van, 2006).
  • 55

    Romans Conquer Much of England (Handke, 2014)

    England is Romanized and the primary language spoken is Latin. Monks in monasteries write the only written language books by hand (Van,2006).
  • 410

    Romans Exit (Handke, 2014)

    The Romans left and England faced invasions by the Picts, Jutes, Saxons, and Scots. With them they brought culture and language.
  • 600

    Germanic Tribes Invade England (Handke, 2014)

    Saxons, Angles, and Jutes invade England, bringing culture and language.
  • Period: 600 to 1100

    Old English

    An influx of new words which begins the Old English period is greatly due to the Catholic Church's influence on society and as a result, on language (Van, 2006). Examples of Old English include: pat/that and werc/work (Van,2006). Words were borrowed from the Celts and from the Romans. Examples of Celtic words include: cairn, loch, glen (Van, 2006). Latin examples include: candel/candle, pipor/pepper, and win/wine (Van, 2006).
  • 1066

    Battle of Hastings

    Led by William of Normandy, the Norman aristocracy takes over in England. English is spoken by only the lower class.
  • 1204

    John "Lackland" loses against England (Handke, 2014)

    John "Lackland" loses battle against England. French is no longer the native language, although it is still the official language of the land.
  • 1337

    Hundred Years War (Handke, 2014)

    France has a loss of continental holdings and as a result there is a loss of the French language.
  • 1348

    Black Death (Handke, 2014)

    There is an increase of English as the working class language.
  • 1417

    Caxton's Printing Press

    With the invention of the printing press, printed language can be widely distributed.
  • 1500

    Colonization (Handke, 2014)

    Colonization results in the spread of the English language as both regional and global communication. With colonization, there is a blending of English with the native languages of the conquered lands resulting in the development of the use of new words in the English language or a separate second language used in colonies.
  • Period: 1500 to

    Middle English

    Latin influences through missionaries, and French influences following the Battle of Hastings altered the English language (Van, 2006). Middle English examples include words such as: ye/the, vppen/up, and wieus/wives. Influences were seen from Scandinavia and Latin (Van, 2006). Some Scandinavian words that still can be seen in the English language include:anger, bait, egg, get and give(Van, 2006). Latin words influenced English such as: cest/chest, scole/school, and fefer/fever.
  • Period: 1500 to

    Early Modern English

    This is recognized as Shakespearean English (Handke, 2014). Influences are seen through words such as thou, art, and hath (Handke, 2014). There are now five vowels, and two dipthongized vowels (Handke, 2014). Latin and Greek words are borrowed to add meaning to English (Handke, 2014) .
  • 1509

    Inauguration of Henry VIII (Handke, 2014)

    Henry VII cut ties with Rome, and the Catholic Church resulting in a loss of much of the Romanized culture

  • Old English Disappears

    Language evolves through French and Latin influences, with a Germanic core. Old English disappears with these new influences in language and culture. Many words in Middle English can be recognized by Modern English speakers: breeth,licour, meloyde, and slepen. These words are quite similar to the words we currently use: breathe, liquor, melody, and sleep.

  • End of Queen Elizabeth's Reign (Handke, 2014)

    With the end of the reign of English queen, Elizabeth I, English is well established by English authors.
  • Period: to

    Present Day English

    Language today reflects instances of more formal written and spoken language as well as instances of more casual conversational English (Van, 2006). Differences in formal, written and spoken language develop alongside less formal language (Van, 2006). Examples include words such as: honour and honor, and magick and magic (Van, 2006).

  • Nods to the Past

    In England, there are nods to earlier Middle English language seen distinctly in both the north and south of England (Van, 2006). Examples include words such as: (northern)sal/ (southern)shall, (northern)father/(southern)vather, (northern)hame/ (southern)home.