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A History of the English Language (For A2 Language)

By c.atherton
  • Period: 450 to May 15, 1110

    Old English (Anglo-Saxon)

    PowerPoint on Old English
  • Norman Conquest of Britian
    May 15, 1066

    Norman Conquest of Britian

    French takes over as the language of the nobility. French words begin to creep into Anglo-Saxon
  • Period: May 15, 1100 to May 15, 1500

    Middle English

  • English becomes the language of the courts
    May 15, 1362

    English becomes the language of the courts

    French is abandoned as the language of the state, and English is adopted instead. This means it becomes the language of the courts and of the royal court, and is used in official documents.
  • May 15, 1476

    William Caxton brings the printing press to Britain

    William Caxton brings the printing press to Britain, leading to:
    - the standardisation of spelling
    - the need for general standardisation of the language
  • Period: May 15, 1500 to

    Early Modern English

  • Period: to

    Late Modern English

  • Robert Lowth publishes A Short Introduction to English Grammar

    Robert Lowth publishes A Short Introduction to English Grammar

    This is the first major grammar of the English language, and it establishes many of the rules of language which persist through to today
  • Signing of the American Declaration of Independence

    Signing of the American Declaration of Independence

    Whilst the American colonies had already added many new words to the English language, the founding of America marked the beginning of the emergence of American English - a distinct linguistic tradition, with its own conventions and community

  • Release of Websters 'Little Blue Book'

    Webster releases a book which standardises American spellings as different from American English. E.g. Color rather than Colour