History of the English Language

By KrisPokiri
  • 450

    Celts Invade (500-43BC)

    The Celtic invaders arrive at the British Isles. This is what we considered to be the begining of the English language. Although not many Celtic words have remained in the ENglish language names of places such as London and Kent have remained has an omage to the original settlers.
  • 550

    Anglo Saxons (449AD)

    The arrival of the Anglo Saxons is the begining of what we call 'Old English'. They brought with them many beautiful poems and relics which sparked the revolution of written language in England. It is believed that approximately one third of the modern english language. Words such as house, food, sing and sleep are everyday words that are spelt the same but the pronounciation is slighlty different.
  • 550

    Romans 43BC-c.450AD

    Although only 200 pure Latin words have remained as a result of the Romans invasion however the chirch would introduce mor eLatin words in later times. We get words such as 'win' (wine), 'candel' (candle) and 'belt' (belt)
  • Jul 11, 1066

    William the Conqueror- The French Empire (1066AD)

    This was begining of three centuries of French monarchy in Britain. As such. the French language dominates and all formal customs are performed in Latin or French. English becomes, very much, the language of the common people.
  • Jul 12, 1348

    The Black Death (1348-1351AD)

    Linguistic development comes to a stand still as survival takes priority. More medical terms are introduced to the common language and perhaps words to describe sorrow and misery are developed. Additionally, as all people require treatment and need communicate this, English gains momentum.

  • Vikings (793AD)

    The vikings bring 200 new words deriveed from the traditional Norse language. Words such as smile, skirt, reindeer, muggy and freckle. Some of these words may bear little meaning to the modern day English speaker but to those who speak english and live in Northern England may recognize words such as 'muggy' as these words have remianed in their local dialect.

  • Alfred the Great- Danelaw (878AD)

    The division created Alfred the Great, seperates the north and south of England. As the north are mostly Danish and the south, traditionally British, accents and diversity in pronunciation begin. This combined with the neutral trading zone along border creates a fusion betwween the languages and between cultures.

  • The Missionary Mission (597 AD)

    St. Augustine's Catholic-Christian movement spreads across Europe. Latin is the language of the church and with the spread of Christianity comes the spread of Latin words such as altar, mass, school, monk and rose.