History of the English Language

  • Period: 400 to

    History of the English Language

  • Period: 450 to 1100

    Old English

    German Invaders invaded Britain.
    Series of massive attacks in England by Vikings
    Introduction of Christianity by the Romans
    Beowulf Poem was written between 700-750
    "I'm from" translates to "Ic cume of" in Old English.
  • Period: 1100 to 1500

    Middle English

    The Duke of Normandy invaded and conquered England
    The English reformation
    Hundred Years war 1337-1453
    The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer was published in 1400
    The phrases "a bakers dozens" originated from Middle English
  • Period: 1500 to

    Early Modern English

    A sudden and distinct change in pronunciation/ The great Vowel Shift
    Invention of printing, first publication of the English book, common prayer
    The first English colony is formed, Jamestown- 1607
    Afeard was a common word used, which meant "frightened"
  • Period: to

    Late Modern English

    The industrial revolution and new technology made new words necessary
    The rise of the British empire
    Finding the new world and creating the colonies
    New words came together by using old words and forming them together in new ways to create new meanings