-
Period: 450 to May 15, 1110
Old English (Anglo-Saxon)
-
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
-
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
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
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
