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Period: Jan 1, 1066 to
Origin and Diffusion Timeline
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Jan 19, 1066
Norman Invasion
The Normans, who came from present-day Normandy in France, spoke French, which they established at England's official language for the next 150 years. The leaders of England, including the royal family, nobles, judges, and clergy, therefore spoke French. -
Jan 19, 1204
Long Conflict with France
In 1204, during the rein of King John, England lost control of Normandy and enetered a long conflict with France. Fewer people in England wished to speak French, and English again became the country's unchallenged dominant language. -
Jan 19, 1362
Statute of Pleading
Recognizing that nearly everyone in England was speaking English. Parliament acted the Statute of Pleading in 1362 to change the official language of court business from French to English. -
Jan 19, 1476
Printing Press
The diffusion of the dialect spoken in London and the university cities was first encouraged by the introduction of the printing press to England in 1476. Grammar books and dictionaries printed in the eighteenth century established rules for spelling and grammar that were based on the London dialect. -
English Colonies
The first English colonies were built in North American, beginning with Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, and Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620. -
Settlement in Jamestown, Virginia
The nucleus of the southeastern colonies was Virginia, where the first permanent settlement by the English in North America was established at Jamestown in 1607. About half of the southeastern settlers came from social-class backgrounds, including deported prisoners, indentured servants, and political and religious refugees.
