Oct 13, 2009
Why today is (the first ever) English Language Day.
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It was on 13 October, 1362 that the Chancellor of England for the first time opened Parliament with a speech in English.
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© 2012 Abuyo. All rights reserved.
What language was used before this?
My guess would Norman French or Latin. Am I right Abraham?
The verb “be” should be after would and before Norman.
That would have been a mind-blowing day. I suppose there was quite an uproar.
“Two nations separated by a common tongue.”
In other words, do we “colonists” get to participate?
I should have off work. I’ve been observing the speaking of English my whole life!
I wonder how many of us would actually understand that speech if we heard it today.
The more scholarly might, but not the rest of us. Strangely enough, it seems to be fairly readable if you read out loud.
[...] 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. [...]
You’ve got to elaborate on this. ????
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.