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Period: 100 to
Migration of peoples in Britain
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Apr 24, 1100
Old English (450-1100 d.C.)
In 5th century Britain was inhabitad by Celts. They were invaded from three Germanic tribes: Jutes, Angles and Saxons.
The invading germanic tribes spoke old English.
It was different from English today. It was more difficult
It was spoken until 1100 d.C. -
Apr 24, 1500
Middle English (1100-1500 d.C.)
England was conquered by William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy) in 1066.
He brought French in England and for a period there was a kind of linguistic class division, where the lower classes spoke English and the upper classes spoke French.
In the 14th century English was spoken again but there was some French words adds.
Ti was spoken until 1500 d.C. -
Early modern English (1550- 1800 d.C.)
Towards the end of Middle English, a sudden and distinct change in pronunciation (the Great Vowel Shift) started, with vowels being pronounced shorter and shorter.
Books became cheaper and more people learned to read.
Spelling and grammar became fixed, and the dialect of London became the standard language.
In 1604 the first English dictionary was published. -
Late modern English (1800- present)
The main difference between Early Modern English and Late Modern English is vocabulary.
two principal factors: the Industrial Revolution and technology created a need for new words and the British Empire at its height covered one quarter of the earth's surface, and the English language adopted foreign words from many countries.
