Why today is (the first ever) English Language Day.

It was on 13 October, 1362 that the Chancellor of England for the first time opened Parliament with a speech in English.

english day

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Category: Language

11 Responses

  1. 1
    Eddy Barnes says:

    What language was used before this?

  2. 2
    Will Adair says:

    My guess would Norman French or Latin. Am I right Abraham?

  3. 3
    Will Adair says:

    The verb “be” should be after would and before Norman.

  4. 4
    Kyle Clark says:

    That would have been a mind-blowing day. I suppose there was quite an uproar.

  5. 5
    Jerry says:

    “Two nations separated by a common tongue.”

    In other words, do we “colonists” get to participate?

  6. 6
    Sean says:

    I should have off work. I’ve been observing the speaking of English my whole life!

  7. 7
    Lee Shelton says:

    I wonder how many of us would actually understand that speech if we heard it today.

    • Idhrendur (Stephen May) says:

      The more scholarly might, but not the rest of us. Strangely enough, it seems to be fairly readable if you read out loud.

  8. 8

    [...] English Language Day.  Actually, this was yesterday (13 October).  Is this an American thing?  Surely not!  Still, I don’t know how else I would have found out about it.  Apparently, it marks the date in 1362 when a Chancellor opened Parliament with a speech in English.  Neat. [...]

  9. 9
    Lindsey says:

    You’ve got to elaborate on this. ????

  10. 10
    Lindsey says:

    P.S. Have you read “The Meaning of Everything: The Story of the Oxford English Dictionary,” by Simon Winchester? It sounds right up your alley. It’s GOOD.

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