The History of the English Language

By YPATIA
  • 600 BCE

    CELTIC LANGUAGES

    The first languages that we know about in the British Isles are the Celtic ones like Welsh and Scots. These people probably settled here about 600 BC. Words of Celtic origin in modern English: pet, slogan, trousers
  • 55 BCE

    ROMANS

    The Romans invaded Britain and introduced Latin. They gave Latin names to places and some of these names are still used today.
  • 450

    ANGLO-SAXONS

    The Anglo-Saxons began to inhabit Britain. They spoke the language which over time turned into English. Words of Anglo-Saxon origin in modern English: arm, dark, forgive, laugh, pillow, read, strong, cow, house, bread, sword
  • 597

    LATIN INFLUENCE

    The Anglo-Saxons started becoming Christians and English adopted new words from Latin such as angel, candle, martyr, plant, noon, school.
  • 800

    VIKINGS

    The Vikings came from Scandinavia and invaded Britain. They brought lots of new words to the English language such as bull, law, reindeer, wing.
  • 1066

    NORMANS

    Normans from France invaded England and introduced an early version of French. Britain's nobility spoke French for over 300 years. Words of French origin in modern English: castle, dragon, market, music, perform, war
  • 1400

    MIDDLE ENGLISH

    (Middle) English gradually took over again from the early French.
  • 1476

    PRINTING PRESS

    An interest in having a Standard way of English came with the introduction of the printing press.
  • Period: 1500 to

    INVADING WORDS

    Words from Latin and Greek made its way into the English language.
  • 1525

    ENGLISH BIBLE

    The New Testament of the Bible was translated into English.

  • SHAKESPEARE

    William Shakespeare began writing plays. He invented almost 2,000 new words in English like gloomy, investment, luggage, stealthy which are still in use today.

  • DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

    Samuel Johnson published his Dictionary of the English Language. He hoped he would refine the English language. He is responsible for many spellings in modern English.
  • Period: to

    CONQUERING THE WORLD

    English spread across the world.

  • MODERN ENGLISH

    The English we speak today is influenced by immigration and historical events.