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Germanic tribes invade England, bringing their languages, which eventually merge to form Old English. -
St. Augustine introduces Christianity to England, leading to the introduction of Latin and Christian terminology into the English language. Suspected date of Beowulf's writing 8th-11th century. -
King Alfred the Great becomes king of Wessex and promotes the use of English as a literary language. -
The Norman Invasion introduces French into the English language, leading to significant changes in vocabulary and grammar. -
The University of Oxford is founded, becoming a center of learning and language development. -
Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales, a foundational work of Middle English literature. -
The invention of the printing press by William Caxton helps standardize the English language. -
The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus leads to the introduction of new words and concepts into the English language. -
The Spanish Armada's defeat marks the beginning of England's rise as a global power, leading to increased language contact and borrowing. -
Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio, a collection of his plays that helps establish Modern English literature. -
The American Revolution leads to the development of American English, with distinct vocabulary and pronunciation. -
World War II accelerates language change, with the introduction of new military and technological terms. -
The rise of SMS and instant messaging