Norman's spoke french and established England's official language for the next 150 years.
Jan 19, 1066
William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy invaded and conquered England. The new conquerors brought with them a kind of French, which became the language of the Royal Court, and the ruling and business classes
Jan 19, 1080
Germanic tribes developed what we now call Old English
Jan 19, 1100
Old English dies
Jan 19, 1200
the lower class spoke English (middle english) and the upper class spoke French.
Jan 19, 1362
English replaces French as the language of law. English is used in Parliament for the first time.
Jan 19, 1400
The great vowel shift begins
Jan 19, 1500
At the end of Middle English, a sudden change in pronunciation started, with vowels being pronounced shorter
Jan 19, 1500
early modern english
english diffues west from Egland to North America.
the first English dictionary was published
The first daily English-language newspaper, The Daily Courant, is published in London.
late modern english
Webster publishes his American English dictionary.
