In 1066 the Normans took control of Britain and began to use their version of French as the official language. Ordinary people used Old English which gradually changed into Middle English in the time of Chaucer. Only in 1362 did Parliament decide that English was to be used in Parliament and the Courts.
The big change into early modern English began with the reign of Henry V in the 15th century and continued into the 17th. There were three great influences. The Book of Common Prayer brought graceful English into the weekly worship of the people. Shakespeare invented many new words and gave English a new place in the hearts and minds of the people. Following soon after Shakespeare the King James Bible also cemented a beauty of language in the minds of the English.
But it was not an easy transition. The language of the university was still Latin. The church hierarchy used Latin or French until at least the 15th century. In 1407 the Archbishop of Canterbury ordered that no one was to translate any text of Holy Scripture into English or any other language, only Latin was to be used.
However both the followers of Wycliffe, and later William Tyndale, thought that English people should be able to read the Word of God in their own language. The 16th century saw many translations of the Bible into English. Tyndale’s was probably the most influential.
The King James version of the Bible has had an enormous influence both on English language (providing many words and famous phrases) and on the culture and values of the English speaking peoples.
Since the 1950s English and many other languages have seen lots of new translations, including many for the first time.
The Bible is certainly the long-term best-seller among books. And it may be thought of as an “influencer” – even today. But its real claim to fame is that it is a word from God that changes lives by revealing God to us.
Dale