CL-18071, W5, Middle English Period

  • Normans conquered England
    1066

    Normans conquered England

    The Normans conquered England, replacing the native English nobility with Anglo-Normans and introducing Norman French as the language of government in England.
  • What the term "Middle" indicates
    1100

    What the term "Middle" indicates

    The term middle indicates that the period was a transition between Old English and early Modern English
  • Grammatical changes
    1200

    Grammatical changes

    Latin continued to exert an important influence on the English vocabulary
  • The first English-language royal proclamation
    1258

    The first English-language royal proclamation

    King Henry III issued the first English-language royal proclamation since the Conquest
  • First time English is used
    1362

    First time English is used

    English is used in English Parliament for the first time
  • First completed translation
    1384

    First completed translation

    John Wycliffe promoted the first complete translation of scripture into the English language (the Wycliffite Bible)
  • Influence of English poetry
    1400

    Influence of English poetry

    Geoffrey Chaucer produced a highly influential body of English poetry
  • Written standard of English
    1430

    Written standard of English

    The Chancery office began record keeping in a form of East Midland English, which became the written standard of English
  • Printing is brought to England
    1476

    Printing is brought to England

    William Caxton brought printing to England, thus promoting literacy throughout the population
  • English expansion overseas
    1497

    English expansion overseas

    John Cabot sailed to Nova Scotia, foreshadowing English territorial expansion overseas
  • Pronunciation changes
    1500

    Pronunciation changes

    Being the most important in consonant sounds. Middle English became a language with few inflectional distinctions