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History and Chronology of English Language

By juancabf
  • The Celts begin to colonize Britain.
    500 BCE

    The Celts begin to colonize Britain.

    Words of Celtic origin in Old English: bog, clan, crag, glen, pet, slew, slogan, trousers
  • First Roman invasion of Britain. Rome ends up occupying Britain for about 500 years.
    55 BCE

    First Roman invasion of Britain. Rome ends up occupying Britain for about 500 years.

  • Germanic Anglo-Saxon tribes begin to inhabit British Isles, and the English Language is born!
    450

    Germanic Anglo-Saxon tribes begin to inhabit British Isles, and the English Language is born!

    Words of Anglo-Saxon origin in Old English: arm, dark, forgive, house, laugh, man, pillow, read, strong, town, woman , year
  • Earliest Old English inscriptions.
    451

    Earliest Old English inscriptions.

  • The Anglo-Saxon start converting Christianity, and English stars adopting new words from Latin
    597

    The Anglo-Saxon start converting Christianity, and English stars adopting new words from Latin

    Such as: angel, candle, hymn, lobster, martyr, plant, noon, school, sock.
  • Britain first undergoes raids from the Vikings, giving English words from old Norse
    792

    Britain first undergoes raids from the Vikings, giving English words from old Norse

    Like: Bull, club, law, ransack, reindeer, slaughter, wing
  • The Norman conquest. William the Conqueror invades Britain, and Britain's nobility speaks French for over 300 years.
    1066

    The Norman conquest. William the Conqueror invades Britain, and Britain's nobility speaks French for over 300 years.

    This is the most significant event in the evolution away from Old English, words to English from French: Aisle, beef, castle, cloak, dragon, judge, market, music, perform, scarlet, tax, trumpet, villain, war
  • The Great Vowel Shift. The pronunciation of long vowel sounds changes in English.
    1350

    The Great Vowel Shift. The pronunciation of long vowel sounds changes in English.

  • William Shakespeare begins writing plays. Shakespeare coins almost 2,00 new words in English.

    William Shakespeare begins writing plays. Shakespeare coins almost 2,00 new words in English.

    Like: anchovy, domineering, gloomy, investment, luggage, rant, stealthy
  • Jamestown becomes the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Britain would go o to create settlement the world over, and each area would make its own contributions to English.

    Jamestown becomes the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Britain would go o to create settlement the world over, and each area would make its own contributions to English.

    A few examples are: avatar (from India), Kangaroo (from Australia), zombie (from West Africa)
  • Samuel Johnson publishes his Dictionary of the English Language, which becomes the first widely used book of its kind. Dr. Johnson is responsible for many spellings in Modern English

    Samuel Johnson publishes his Dictionary of the English Language, which becomes the first widely used book of its kind. Dr. Johnson is responsible for many spellings in Modern English