Middle English

Middle English

Pamela Ramírez

1066

Late 12th Century

Late 11th to 13th century

Late 14th Century

1337-1453

Norman Conquest

The Hundred Years' War

The Third Crusade

Geoffrey Chaucer's Works

1170

Norman Rule

1381

Ormulum

The Peasants' Revolt

Pamela Ramírez

Middle English

1476

1400

William Caxton's Printing Press

The Great Vowel Shift

The first book printed in England

Norman Rule

Eclipse of English

• The Normans establish themselves as rulers in England.
• The English monarchy and nobility communicate primarily in French, while the common people continue to speak Old English.
• Superseded in official documents and other records by Latin and then increasingly in all areas by Anglo-Norman, written English hardly reappeared until the 13th century.

Norman Rule

Eclipse of English

• The Normans establish themselves as rulers in England.
• The English monarchy and nobility communicate primarily in French, while the common people continue to speak Old English.
• Superseded in official documents and other records by Latin and then increasingly in all areas by Anglo-Norman, written English hardly reappeared until the 13th century.

The Peasants' Revolt of 1381

This event did not directly introduce significant linguistic changes to the English language, but it was a part of the historical and social context in which English was evolving as a language of increasing importance. It contributed to the ongoing development and standardization of Middle English, which would continue to evolve in the centuries that followed.

The Thrid Crusade

English participation in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) exposes soldiers and travelers to new languages and cultures, influencing vocabulary.

Borrowing from French and Latin: Crusaders, who came from various regions of Europe, often encountered speakers of other languages during the Crusade. This exposure to different languages, particularly French and Latin, led to some loanwords and vocabulary enrichment in English. These borrowings were mostly related to military and religious terminology, as well as cultural aspects.

Printing Press

• The introduction of the printing press to England by William Caxton accelerates the standardization of Middle English, making written texts more accessible to a wider audience.

Norman Rule

Eclipse of English

• The Normans establish themselves as rulers in England.
• The English monarchy and nobility communicate primarily in French, while the common people continue to speak Old English.
• Superseded in official documents and other records by Latin and then increasingly in all areas by Anglo-Norman, written English hardly reappeared until the 13th century.

1066 - Norman Conquest

• William the Conqueror, a Norman, defeats King Harold II of England at the Battle of Hastings.
• The Norman Conquest leads to the infusion of Norman French vocabulary into Old English, marking the beginning of Middle English.

The Canterbury Tales

Geoffrey Chaucer's works, particularly "The Canterbury Tales," played a pivotal role in shaping the English language. His contributions to standardization, vocabulary enrichment (from French, Latin and other languages), phonological understanding, and literary tradition have left an enduring legacy that continues to be studied and appreciated in the study of English literature and linguistics. Chaucer's works provide valuable insights into the culture, society, and everyday life of medieval England. His descriptions of characters, their speech, and their interactions offer a window into the linguistic and social dynamics of his era.

Late 12th century

The "Ormulum," also known as the "Ormulum Manuscript," is a significant Middle English religious text written by a monk named Orm or Ormin

The "Ormulum" had a notable impact on Middle English primarily through its orthographic standardization and preservation of linguistic features of its time. It contributed to the development of more consistent and phonetic spelling practices in Middle English and served as a linguistic and religious reference for later writers and scribes.

The Hundred Years' War (1337-1453)

It influenced the English language primarily through the adoption of French vocabulary, the standardization of English as a language of administration, and the cultural exchange that enriched the linguistic and literary landscape of Middle English. While not as transformative as the Norman Conquest, it was a notable chapter in the ongoing evolution of the English language.

English adopted many French military terms like "siege," "army," "combat," "archer," and "cavalry." In the legal sphere, French terms like "court," "judge," and "jury" also entered English.