English 12A 1.07

  • 400

    Year 400

    Year 400
    Germanic tribes invade England, bringing their languages, which eventually merge to form Old English.
  • 597

    Year 597

    Year 597
    St. Augustine introduces Christianity to England, leading to the introduction of Latin and Christian terminology into the English language. Suspected date of Beowulf's writing 8th-11th century.
  • 871

    Year 871

    Year 871
    King Alfred the Great becomes king of Wessex and promotes the use of English as a literary language.
  • 1066

    Year 1066

    Year 1066
    The Norman Invasion introduces French into the English language, leading to significant changes in vocabulary and grammar.
  • 1204

    Year 1204

    Year 1204
    The University of Oxford is founded, becoming a center of learning and language development.
  • 1387

    Year 1387

    Year 1387
    Chaucer writes The Canterbury Tales, a foundational work of Middle English literature.
  • 1476

    Year 1476

    Year 1476
    The invention of the printing press by William Caxton helps standardize the English language.
  • 1492

    Year 1492

    Year 1492
    The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus leads to the introduction of new words and concepts into the English language.
  • Year 1588

    Year 1588
    The Spanish Armada's defeat marks the beginning of England's rise as a global power, leading to increased language contact and borrowing.
  • Year 1623

    Year 1623
    Publication of Shakespeare's First Folio, a collection of his plays that helps establish Modern English literature.
  • Year 1775

    Year 1775
    The American Revolution leads to the development of American English, with distinct vocabulary and pronunciation.
  • Year 1945

    Year 1945
    World War II accelerates language change, with the introduction of new military and technological terms.
  • Year 2000

    Year 2000
    The rise of SMS and instant messaging