-
-
Queen Elizabeth I started the East India Company in 1600 to develop trade between Britain and India. English became the language used for trading. However, some words, which meant one thing in Britain, meant another thing in Indian English. A special dictionary called Hobson Jobson was made to explain the meaning of these words. -
The slave trade began in the 17th century and one part of the slave trade was called The Triangle Trade.
English arrived in the Caribbean with settlers in the 1620's. A new form of English called Creole is thought to have started as a simplified English spoken between sailors and slaves on the ships that brought the Africans to the Caribbean. We do know that the slaves used many English words, which they mixed with their native language. -
Before 1788, there were approximately 250 languages spoken throughout Australia. Many of these were Aboriginal languages, which died out as the number of indigenous people fell.
The 'First Fleet' arrived in Port Jackson (Sydney) in Australia in 1788. It was a fleet of 11 ships, which held about 780 English people. Many of them were criminals who were 'transported for life' and were not allowed to return to England.