Why and how did English borrow so much basic vocabulary from Norman French? Was French a real everyday language in Medieval Britain and not only a prestige formal language?

Asked by Last Modified  

1 Answer

Follow 3
Answer

Please enter your answer

French is a language that has always played a significant role in the composition of other languages. According to a study, almost half of the English words are derived from the French language. We use many English words in our daily lives such as abandon, adventure, advantage etc. which have been originated...
read more
French is a language that has always played a significant role in the composition of other languages. According to a study, almost half of the English words are derived from the French language. We use many English words in our daily lives such as abandon, adventure, advantage etc. which have been originated from the French Language. The French language was considered as the language for the royalty. It happened because there was an invasion of the Normans in England from France. Gradually, they started ruling the country. Still, the majority of the folks spoke English. So, to make it understandable for everyone, the law system started mixing the French words with English words. That’s the reason why we often find that the legal English language contains the combination of English and French words, like “rules and regulations.” Also, to make up for the differences in the class of the people, food items were given two different names. E.g., The English-speaking farmer raised pigs, which were then served at dinner to the French-speaking lord as pork. The Normans were in charge for about three centuries. So, this period is long enough for the two languages to be in contact like this, hence, borrowing a lot of words. read less
Comments

Related Questions

If a child is reading aloud and is maintaining meaning, is it necessary that I correct every word he misreads?
No, that will demotivate the child. Concentrate on few important, then slowly gradually improve the pronunciation.
Oscar Sivale
What is apple called in French?
The word for apple in french is pomme
Saukat
Hello, I wish to learn french. Which books will help me to do it on my own without any classes.
yes, it possible just focus... but you need basic, book and some support from native people like me. notice i can take class for free specially for demo and speech .
Nikhil
I have done French course from Jammu University and want to start Online classes for it. How can you help?
Bonjour Rakhi, Well, It's a good idea to start giving classes that will help you to enhance your knowledge in a particular language. How I personally can help you is that I can suggest you some site and...
Rakhi

Now ask question in any of the 1000+ Categories, and get Answers from Tutors and Trainers on UrbanPro.com

Ask a Question

Related Lessons

How do you say the days of the week in French?
Monday - Lundi Tuesday - Mardi Wednesday - Mercredi Thursday - Jeudi Friday - Vendredi Saturday - Samedi Sunday - Dimanche

An Imaginary Conversation Between Two Individual About Their Profession That Is Written In French
Recomposez - Un dialogue entre un professeur et le médecin que parlent avce leur profession.{ La circontance et la place: À côte de la rue, il-y-a un petit kiosque du thé. Chaque...

What common French language mistakes do non-native French speakers make?
Learning French is a beautiful journey, but like with any language, non-native speakers often make some common mistakes. The good news? With the right guidance, these can be easily corrected! 😊 Here...

Is French language easy to learn anyone ?
Yes, Absolutely! Here’s Why! Many people ask me, “Is French easy to learn?” And my answer is always: Yes, if you learn it the right way! 😊 French may seem challenging at first, but...

Recommended Articles

French language is known as the language of love. During the course of history, there was a time when French language was more popular than the English language. It is still a sought after foreign language and is official language in more than 25 countries in the world. Every year a good number of students enroll themselves...

Read full article >

When globalization was out of picture, it was enough to know just the mother tongue. Since globalization and out-sourcing have become part of life, there is a nagging need to learn new languages. Foreign languages help us to communicate with potential clients, sell our ideas and bond with their culture. It could be opening...

Read full article >

Last month, we had an exciting UrbanPro French Language - Question & Win Contest with many participating from all over the country. Our heartiest Congratulations to the Winner, MD Imran! Thank you all for taking out your time and participating in the contest. We're excited to get so many interesting French language...

Read full article >

Is French grammar deterring your progress in learning the French language? Well, you can keep aside your worries now and start learning French grammar easily. Actually, learning French grammar can be easier than you think if you know the rules right. To help you perfect your French grammar skills, we have listed few important...

Read full article >

Looking for French Language Classes?

Learn from the Best Tutors on UrbanPro

Are you a Tutor or Training Institute?

Join UrbanPro Today to find students near you