Words

The Evolution of the English Spelling System

By sch0005
  • Period: 450 to Jan 1, 1100

    Old English

    Also known as the Anglo-Saxon period, Old English is said to be no longer recognisably Englsh. It is said to be the result of the merging of the various invaders' dialects.
  • Earliest manuscript records of Old English (approximate date)
    Jan 1, 700

    Earliest manuscript records of Old English (approximate date)

  • Norman Invasion of England envolving Old English into Middle English
    Jan 1, 1066

    Norman Invasion of England envolving Old English into Middle English

    The Norman Invasion of England in 1066 brought French to the language. By the 13th century approx 10,000 words had come into the language; three quarters of which still exist today. Spelling also changed gradually overtime as the Norman scribes began to write English using French spelling. Changes include:
    -qu for cw (queen)
    -gh instead of h (night)
    -ch instead of c (church)
    -ou instead of u (house)
    -c before e instead of s (cell)
    There were also other changes that took place.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1100 to Jan 1, 1500

    Middle English

  • Earliest surviving texts in Middle English (approximate date)
    Jan 1, 1150

    Earliest surviving texts in Middle English (approximate date)

  • Period: Jan 1, 1450 to

    The Great Vowel Shift

    The GVS was a cricial event in the development of the English language. It was a period of significant alteration in the pronounciation of long vowel sounds, seperating old and modern English. The shift is the reason for many of the 'odd' spellings in modern English, however it is still unclear why it took place.
  • Period: Jan 1, 1500 to

    Early New English

  • The Elementarie published
    Jan 1, 1582

    The Elementarie published

    The Elementarie (1582) written by the headmaster of Merchant Taylors' School in London, Richard Mulcaster, is regarded an important forerunner of the first dictionary. It was published at a time- according to Merchant- in which English spelling had no certain direction. The Elementarie listed approximately 8,000 words. This included common words such as 'burn' and more obscure words such as 'carpetknight'. The words listed were left underfined as Merchant's focus was on spelling.
  • First English dictionary printed

    First English dictionary printed

    Table Alphabeticall developed by Schoolmaster Robert Cawdrey and printed in 1604 is often regarded as the first English dictionary. It contained approximately 2,500 words, each with a synonym or brief definiton. http://grammar.about.com/od/words/a/earlydiction.htm
  • Period: to

    Modern English

  • The American Philological Association adopted 11 new spellings.

    The American Philological Association adopted 11 new spellings.

    The association adopted and promoted 11 new spellings. These included: ar catalog definit gard giv hav infinit liv tho thru wisht. http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/histsp.html
  • The British Spelling Reform Association was founded.

    The British Spelling Reform Association was founded.

    http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/histsp.html
  • The American Philological Association produced a list of 3500 spellings.

    The American Philological Association produced a list of 3500 spellings.

    Previously, the association proposed 11 new spellings. http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/histsp.html
  • The (American) National Education Association began promoting a list of 12 spellings.

    The (American) National Education Association began promoting a list of 12 spellings.

    The 12 words promoted by the American National Education Associated included: tho altho thru thruout thoro thoroly thorofare program prolog catalog pedagog decalog
    These words were promoted till 1921. http://www.barnsdle.demon.co.uk/spell/histsp.html
  • The Oxford Dictionary is published.

    The Oxford Dictionary is published.