Screenshot 2024 10 03 17.19.13

The history of the English language

By Jaruchi
  • 600 BCE

    The Celts

    The Celts
    The first languages in the British Isles are the Celtic ones like Welsh and Scottish Gaelic. These people settled the British Isles about
    600 BC. That is more than 2500 years ago! Words of the Celts that we use today:
    -Clan
    -Dad
    -Penguin
    -Town
    -Trousers
    -Whiskey
  • 55 BCE

    The Romans

    The Romans
    In 55BC, there was an invasion by the Romans, who spoke Latin.
    They gave Latin names to places and some of these names are still used today. Words of the Romans that we use today:
    -Triumph
    -Circus
    -Dictator
  • 450

    The Anglo-Saxons

    The Anglo-Saxons
    The first people who spoke English
    arrived in England in about the year 450.
    These people were the Anglo-Saxons
    and their language was Old English. Words of the Anglo-Saxons that we use today:
    -Spell
    -Earth
    -Woman
  • 800

    The Vikings

    The Vikings
    From about 800, the Vikings started to invade Britain.
    The Vikings came from countries like Denmark and
    Norway and spoke a language that developed
    into Norwegian and Danish. Words of the Vikings that we use today:
    -Cake
    -Bag
    -Husband
    -Egg
    -Die
  • 1066

    The Normans

    The Normans
    In 1066, the Normans invaded England from Normandy in France.
    They spoke an earlier version of French and this became the language of prestige in England. Words of the Normans that we use today:
    -Army
    -Palace
    -Law
  • 1400

    Middle English

    Middle English
    There were no more invasions of England. English became more important than French. A number of books were published in Middle English.
    The most famous is a book of stories called
    The Canterbury Tales (1400) by Geoffrey Chaucer. Words of the Middle English that we use today:
    -There
  • 1475

    The Printing Press

    The Printing Press
    With the invention of the printing press in 1476, publishing books in English became very popular.
  • 1561

    William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare
    There are many important authors in Modern English, but one of the most famous writers is William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616). Do you know any other writers from
    the British Isles?