Pre-, Old, Middle and Early Modern English by Вікторія Павлівна Красовська

Several centuries BC - arriving of Celts (no exact date)

krasovskaviktoriia — 2024-02-09 12:08:18 UTC

It is believed that the Celts arrived at the shores of Britain at approximately 1,000BC and lived there during the Iron Age, the Roman Age and the post Roman era. Their legacy continues today where examples of the language, culture and traditions continue to exist.

The 7th century

krasovskaviktoriia — 2024-02-09 12:20:32 UTC

Germanic tribes invaded Britain in 600 year. Those were Saxons, Angles and Jutes and that's why this period is also called Anglo-Saxon English.

1066

krasovskaviktoriia — 2024-02-09 12:24:46 UTC

The Norman Conquest began in 1066 and that period is marked as one which is connected with development of French language in Britain. In that time the language of the palace, education, religion and politics was French, and English language was taken as a language of servants.

1400-1700

krasovskaviktoriia — 2024-02-09 12:29:25 UTC

It took about 300 years for English to develop from a regional language to a global one and that happened mainly because of the The Great Vowel Shift.Through this vowel shift, the pronunciation of all Middle English long vowels was changed. Some consonant sounds also changed, particularly those that became silent; the term Great Vowel Shift is sometimes used to include these consonantal changes. These changes made English understandable to the modern ear.

410

riabayelizavieta — 2024-02-11 11:18:50 UTC

The Goths (speakers of a now extinct East Germanic language) sack Rome. The first Germanic tribes arrive in Britain.

1171

riabayelizavieta — 2024-02-11 11:35:51 UTC

Henry II declares himself overlord of Ireland, introducing Norman French and English to the country. About this time the University of Oxford is founded.

1586

riabayelizavieta — 2024-02-11 11:39:00 UTC

The first grammar of English—William Bullokar's Pamphlet for Grammar—is published.

410 AD

orelanhelina — 2024-02-12 16:24:37 UTC

The Roman Legions were withdrawn from Britain, leaving chaos. The Picts raided from the North and Scots from Ireland, while the Jutes and the Saxons attacked from the Eastern coasts.

1066

orelanhelina — 2024-02-12 16:25:36 UTC

William of Normandy defeated the English under King Harold II. Norman arystocracy replaced English arystocracy. English became the language of the lower classes.

1348 — 1351

orelanhelina — 2024-02-12 16:26:34 UTC

1/3 of people in England died of The Black Death. The prestige of English as a language of the working class increased during that period.

1603

orelanhelina — 2024-02-12 16:28:48 UTC

The end of the reign of Elizabeth I. Literature had boomed through the works of Spencer, Marlow and Shakespeare and Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh had laid the foundation for expanding the English influences in the New World.

3 concentric circles (1980)

melnychukyuliiavas — 2024-02-12 17:49:25 UTC

Kachru constructed a model of the different uses of English around the world. This model is comprised of three concentric circles, which he labelled: the inner circle, the outer circle and the expanding circle.

Three circles of English

hulkoanna — 2024-02-12 17:50:33 UTC

“World Englishes” proposed by Kachru in the mid-1980s that allocates the presence of English into three concentric circles: The Inner Circle(native English speakers), the Outer Circle(English not native but holds importance), and the Expanding Circle(English does not hold importance and is learned as a foreign language).

2022

melnychukyuliiavas — 2024-02-12 17:53:17 UTC

Approximately 20% of the world's population speaks English, with around 400 million people speaking it natively and an additional 1.5 billion who speak it as their second or foreign language.

55 BC

rusnakanastasiias — 2024-02-12 18:12:57 UTC

Julius Caesar's attempts to invade Britain.

The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)

rusnakanastasiias — 2024-02-12 18:14:20 UTC

The Hundred Years' War was a series of armed conflicts fought between the kingdoms of England and France during the Late Middle Ages.

1204

rusnakanastasiias — 2024-02-12 18:15:30 UTC

The year 1204 marks the turning point when King John nicknamed John Lackland lost his English possessions in France leading to a gradual decline of French as an official language in England. By the 13th and 14th centuries even the children of the English nobility no longer learn French as their native language. English had become the new medium of instruction.

1476

melnychukyuliiavas — 2024-02-12 18:23:25 UTC

William Caxton is credited with standardising the English language through printing by homogenising regional dialects and largely adopting the London dialect.

1500-1700

melnychukyuliiavas — 2024-02-12 18:24:36 UTC

The type of English spoken and written by Shakespeare was called Early Modern English. Because of Shakespeare's fame and influence at the time, it also came to be known as Shakespearean English. Early Modern English was used from the 1500s to the 1700s.

William Shakespeare

hulkoanna — 2024-02-12 18:26:16 UTC

Shakespeare contributed to the standardization of the English language in the 17th and 18th centuries. As his work gained importance, correctly spelling words became more common. He created compound words, adverbs, and adjectives from verbs. Shakespeare added suffixes and prefixes to many words.

A Table Alphabeticall (1604)

rusnakanastasiias — 2024-02-12 18:27:38 UTC

A Table Alphabeticall is the abbreviated title of the first monolingual dictionary in the English language, created by Robert Cawdrey and first published in London in 1604.

Although the work is important in being the first collection of its kind, it is not a large work. At only 120 pages, it listed a total of 2,543 words accompanied by very brief (often single-word) definitions.

The dictionary's claimed purpose was "for the benefit and help of unskillful persons". Within a few decades, many other English dictionaries followed.

The Great Vowel Shift

hulkoanna — 2024-02-12 18:29:33 UTC

During the Great Vowel Shift, long vowel sounds shifted upwards, meaning they changed position in the mouth and were pronounced higher up. The Great Vowel Shift marked the transition from Middle English to Early Modern English. It took place from around the 1400s to the 1700s.

1505

melnychukyuliiavas — 2024-02-12 18:35:32 UTC

King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church is one of the most far-reaching events in English history. During the Reformation, the King replaced the Pope as the Head of the Church in England, causing a bitter divide between Catholics and Protestants. But why did Henry make such a drastic split?

1337-1453

katya0907200481 — 2024-02-12 19:08:57 UTC

Intermittent armed conflict between England and France over territorial rights and the issue of succession to the French throne. It began when Edward III invaded Flanders in 1337 in order to assert his claim to the French crown.

1558

katya0907200481 — 2024-02-12 19:22:32 UTC

In 1558, Elizabeth I came to the throne. Her reign restored a sort of order to the realm after the turbulent reigns of Edward VI and Mary I. The religious issue which had divided the country since Henry VIII was in a way put to rest by the Elizabethan Religious Settlement, which re-established the Church of England. Much of Elizabeth's success was in balancing the interests of the Puritans and Catholics; historian Robert Bucholz paraphrasing historian Conrad Russell, suggested that the genius of the Church of England was that it "thinks Protestant but looks Catholic."She managed to offend neither to a large extent, although she clamped down on Catholics towards the end of her reign as war with Catholic Spain loomed.

The Battle of Hastings 14 Oct.(1066)

juliatsopa30 — 2024-02-12 19:25:02 UTC

The Battle of Hastings changed the entire course of not just English, but European history. The Battle was fought for the crown of England between William, Duke of Normandy and Harold Godwineson.King Harold II of England was defeated. By the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold was dead and his forces were destroyed. Harold was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, and the battle changed the course of history and established the French-speaking Normans as the new rulers of England.

circa 500 BCE

juliatsopa30 — 2024-02-12 19:27:45 UTC

Arrival of Celtic Tribes in Britain (circa 500 BCE): Celtic tribes, such as the Brythons, settled in Britain, bringing their languages and culture.

Renaissance

katya0907200481 — 2024-02-12 19:29:15 UTC

During the English Renaissance, from around 1500–1650, some 10,000 to 12,000 words entered the English lexicon, including the word lexicon. Some examples include aberration, allusion, anachronism, democratic, dexterity, enthusiasm, imaginary, juvenile, pernicious, sophisticated.

1215

juliatsopa30 — 2024-02-12 19:30:35 UTC

Magna Carta (1215): The signing of the Magna Carta by King John established principles of English law and governance, influencing the development of Middle English legal terminology.

16th century

juliatsopa30 — 2024-02-12 19:32:03 UTC

The Reformation (16th century): The Protestant Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther in 1517, had profound effects on England. King Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church in the 1530s led to the establishment of the Church of England. This religious upheaval resulted in changes to religious practices and the translation of the Bible into English, influencing language usage and standardization.

Introduction of Printing

boicheniukandrii — 2024-02-12 19:41:15 UTC

This new machine made books much cheaper to produce and to buy and therefore levels of literacy climbed much higher among the English people. This also helped begin the greater standardisation of spelling and grammar. By the 15th century, the English language had changed considerably, partly due to the introduction of the printing press, which had stabilised spelling and grammar.

Because more were books being produced, there was a need to write words in the same way, so a standard spelling had to be agreed upon.

Readers of this time, after the development of the printing press, would have found Old English to be almost incomprehensible, just as most modern readers find Chaucer’s language impossible to understand today.

Wars of Roses 1455–1487

boicheniukandrii — 2024-02-12 19:48:05 UTC

The Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought in England during the 15th century, had a profound impact on English literature and culture. The wars, fought between the houses of Lancaster and York for control of the English throne, were a time of great political and social upheaval. This tumultuous period provided rich material for writers, particularly playwrights, who used the wars as a backdrop for their works. The Wars of the Roses also influenced the development of the English language. The period saw the emergence of a distinctively English form of expression, as writers began to use the vernacular language of the common people in their works, rather than the Latin or French that had previously been the norm.

The Introduction of Christianity 597 AD

boicheniukandrii — 2024-02-12 19:52:26 UTC

The introduction of Christianity in 597 AD brought about immense changes to England in social and religious matters. It also had far-reaching effects on the English language. It did not only introduce a rich source of Greek and Latin words but also opened up a new Visa for the formation of words from native Sources. Indeed, old English was remarkably influenced and enriched by the conversion of England into Christianity. As observed by H. Bradley, about 400 Latin words were incorporated in English after the conversion and before the Norman conquest (1066 AD) although many of them were not all commonly used and only a few of them had actually survived in modern English.

Heptarchy ~around 800 AD

boicheniukandrii — 2024-02-12 19:59:54 UTC

The origins of the Heptarchy can be traced back to the arrival of Germanic tribes in Britain. Heptarchy was not a homogenous entity but rather a collection of diverse kingdoms, each with its own unique characteristics. The kingdoms of Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia were predominantly Angle-dominated, while Wessex, Sussex, and Essex were primarily inhabited by Saxons. Kent, on the other hand, was influenced by Jutish settlers.

The distinct ethnolinguistic backgrounds of these kingdoms contributed to variations in language, customs, and traditions. The dialects spoken in these regions gradually evolved into Old English, a precursor to the English language spoken today.

Arrival of the Celts in Britain 1,000BC

shvetskateryna_fim — 2024-02-12 20:39:25 UTC

Beowulf, an epic poem, is one of the most famous literary works from this era

shvetskateryna_fim — 2024-02-12 20:40:38 UTC

1400-1600

shvetskateryna_fim — 2024-02-12 20:42:13 UTC

The Great Vowel Shift significantly altered the pronunciation of English words

1755

shvetskateryna_fim — 2024-02-12 20:44:04 UTC

Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language"

1509 Accession to the throne

korchakdaryna — 2024-02-12 21:23:41 UTC

1509 He was just 17 years old at the time ascended to the throne following the death of his father.

Marriage to Catherine of Aragon: Henry VIII had married Catherine of Aragon in 1509, though she had previously been married to his older brother, Arthur. This marriage would later become a central issue in Henry's reign.

Break with the Catholic Church: In the 1530s, Henry's desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which had not produced a male heir, led to a break with the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England, with Henry as its Supreme Head.

5th-6th centuries

zhelikhovska0404 — 2024-02-12 21:43:00 UTC

Germanic peoples (Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Frisians) speaking West Germanic dialects settle most of Britain. Celts retreat to distant areas of Britain: Ireland, Scotland, Wales.

700

zhelikhovska0404 — 2024-02-12 21:43:55 UTC

Approximate date of the earliest manuscript records of Old English.

Mid to late 14th century

zhelikhovska0404 — 2024-02-12 21:44:47 UTC

The Hundred Years War between England and France leads to the loss of almost all of England's French possessions. The Black Death kills roughly one-third of England's population

1590-1611

zhelikhovska0404 — 2024-02-12 21:46:03 UTC

William Shakespeare writes his Sonnets and the majority of his plays

1387 The Geoffrey Chaucer

korchakdaryna — 2024-02-12 22:17:06 UTC

Middle English text example "The Canterbury Tales": While the exact dates are still debated, some scholars believe 1387 could be the year Chaucer began work on his masterpiece, "The Canterbury Tales," his unfinished collection of interconnected stories told by a group of pilgrims traveling to Canterbury Cathedral.

ca. 787 A.D. The Scandinavian Conquest

vorotniakanastasiia — 2024-02-12 22:35:09 UTC

Under the year 787 three shiploads of Northmen landed upon the coast of Britain and invaded the country. These invaders were Scandinavian tribes: The Danes, the Swedes. They inhabited the north of Europe (modern Denmark, Norway and Sweden). They started their invasion taking possession over the East of Britain and the Danish invasion resulted in the occupation of a great part of the territory by Scandinavian settlers. In the year 878 the English King Alfred the Great, by the Treaty of Wedmore was obliged to recognize Danish rule over a territory covering two-thirds of modern England; all Northumbria, all East Anglia and one half of Central England made up District called the Danelaw.

The effect of the Danish Conquest was a contribution of many Scan¬dinavian words to the English vocabulary.

1611 English Bible

korchakdaryna — 2024-02-12 22:36:23 UTC

The Authorized Version of the English Bible (the "King James" Bible) is published, greatly influencing the development of the written language.

1622 Weekly News

korchakdaryna — 2024-02-12 22:37:55 UTC

Weekly News, the first English newspaper, is published in London.

1630–1651

vorotniakanastasiia — 2024-02-12 22:40:01 UTC

William Bradford, Governor of Plymouth Colony, wrote his journal. It will become Of Plymouth Plantation, one of the earliest texts written in the American Colonies.

1066

vorotniakanastasiia — 2024-02-12 22:44:03 UTC

In 1066 William the Conqueror, the Duke of Normandy (part of modern France), invaded and conquered England. The new conquerors (called the Normans) brought with them a kind of French, which became the language of the Royal Court, and the ruling and business classes. For a period there was a kind of linguistic class division, where the lower classes spoke English and the upper classes spoke French. In the 14th century English became dominant in Britain again, but with many French words added. This language is called Middle English. It was the language of the great poet Chaucer (c1340-1400), but it would still be difficult for native English speakers to understand today.

ca. 410 A.D.

vorotniakanastasiia — 2024-02-12 22:44:58 UTC

First Germanic tribes arrive in England from the lowlands on the other side of the North Sea. Settlement of most of Britain by Germanic peoples (Angles, Saxons, Jutes, some Frisians) speaking West Germanic dialects descended from Proto-Germanic.

By 600 A.D., the Germanic speech of England comprises dialects of a language distinct from the continental Germanic languages

dariiatoderishyna — 2024-02-12 23:09:22 UTC

10th century

dariiatoderishyna — 2024-02-12 23:12:26 UTC

Danes and English continue to mix peacefully, and ultimately become indistinguishable. Many Scandinavian loanwords enter the language; English even borrows pronouns like they, them, their.

In 1474 William Caxton brings a printing press to England from Germany. Publishes the first printed book in England. Beginning of the long process of standardization of spelling.

dariiatoderishyna — 2024-02-12 23:13:40 UTC

16th century

dariiatoderishyna — 2024-02-12 23:15:09 UTC

The Great Vowel Shift gradually takes place. There is a large influx of Latin and Greek borrowings and neologisms

17th-19th centuries

dariiatoderishyna — 2024-02-12 23:16:57 UTC

The sciences develop: Astronomy, Physics, Natural History (which later splits into Geology and Biology), Medicine, beginnings of Chemistry. The fashion for borrowing Latin and Greek words, and coining new words with Latin and Greek morphemes, rages unabated. Elaborate syntax matches elaborate vocabulary (e.g. writings of Samuel Johnson).

The rise of English purists, e.g. Jonathan Swift, who decried the 'degeneration' of English and sought to 'purify' it and fix it forever in unchanging form.