1. Introduction
I started learning English as my first foreign language at the age of eight, followed by French as the second at the age of eleven. Soon, I recognised similarities of the vocabulary of the two languages, not knowing why, since the grammatical structure and the declension of nouns etc. was obviously different. Of course, I was too young to think it over. However, during my studies of English linguistics I was taught the basic knowledge about the relation between French and English. Since I had learned that most of the words I knew from French were also borrowed into English, I was particularly interested in the process of this phenomenon. Which events and developments were responsible for the adoption of so many words?
The Middle English period was characterised by many changes- both in its social and linguistic situation. In 1066 the Norman Conquest occurred marking the starting point of the most influencing era throughout the history of the English language. After the Conquest there were two main waves of immigration. Firstly, French upper class people migrated to the occupied British Island bringing their language with them, and English lost its status as the official language. Secondly, about two hundred years later, those French people lost their connection to the continent, when king John lost Normandy, and English was about to reinforce again. However, soon new French invasions occurred and a new French variety was brought to the Island which led to an increasing number of new vocabulary and the English language had to be enforced a second time. (Baugh, 1991)
This raises the question why French prevailed in the English language that persistently, although English had been reinforced and had already gained prestige again.
This is the matter of interest in this research paper which is concerned with the history of the English language between 1066 and 1400. Generally, it deals with the French influence on the English language, but focusses especially on the impact of Central French, which took place in the second phase (1250- 1500) where most of the vocabulary was adopted.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Languages in Contact
2. 1 What is Language Contact?
2. 2 How do languages come into contact?
2. 3 What happens to languages in contact?
3. French influence on the English language
3. 1 First Contact Situation
3. 1.1 Norman Invasion
3. 1. 2 French Aristocracy Background
3. 1. 3 Norman French versus English
3. 2 Loss of Normandy
3. 3 Second Contact Situation
3. 3.1 Re- establishment of English
3. 3.1.1 Foreign Invasion & Opposition
3. 3.1.2 Decline of French
3. 3. 2 Norman French versus Central French
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives & Topics
This research paper examines the history of the English language between 1066 and 1400, specifically focusing on the French influence on the English lexicon. The primary aim is to analyze why French persisted in the English language despite the reinforcement of English as the official language and the re-emergence of English national identity.
- The sociolinguistic dynamics of language contact and borrowing.
- The impact of the Norman Conquest and the subsequent immigration waves.
- The distinction between the two major phases of French linguistic influence.
- The cultural and political significance of the loss of Normandy.
- The contrast between Norman French and Central French dialects in Middle English.
Auszug aus dem Buch
3. 3. 2 Norman French versus Central French
In many aspects, French words were borrowed into the English language. Mainly the influence derived from contact situations between speakers of French and English, through administrational or other official purposes and through written documents (such as if the translator of a French text carried over the one or the other vocabulary in his translated English version).
However, it is necessary to make a clear distinction between the two phases of borrowing French words into English. The first phase is said to have lasted from 1066 to about 1250 and has been already explained above. The second phase has to be considered to be the most influential one, since about 10.000 French loans spread into English at that time (1250- 1500) (Gelderen, 2006: 99).
The source of this vast quantity of words was Central French, which, in contrast to Norman French, was spoken by the people in Paris and was the actual prestigious French dialect. Since the Normans in England lived far away from the origin of Central French, they spoke their own dialect without noticing any pronunciation mistakes or old- fashioned terms. Consequently, Norman French, separated from the continent, remained stable on the basis of written standards or even changed in pronunciation due to the contact with English. In contrast to the esteemed Central French of the continent, Anglo-Norman soon became the butt of jokes (Blake, 1992: 427), because of its use was considered to be archaic and therefore the new variant „[had to] be painstakingly learned with the help of books and tutors“ (Blake, 1992: 427) in order to bring it to perfection. As already mentioned in the preceding paragraph, French became a rather artificial language in England, but due to the fact that Central French was more prestigious than the French of England, people wanted their children to accomplish their knowledge of French and sent them to the continent in order to get the right accent (Baugh, 1991: 176)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides the personal motivation for the study and outlines the historical context of the Middle English period, setting the scope of the research between 1066 and 1400.
2. Languages in Contact: This section defines the fundamental sociolinguistic concepts of language contact, including how languages interact, the role of speakers, and the consequences such as borrowing, pidgins, and creoles.
3. French influence on the English language: This core chapter analyzes the chronological progression of French linguistic impact, detailing the Norman invasion, the role of the aristocracy, and the secondary influence of Central French.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, explaining that the massive influx of French vocabulary was irreversible due to prior language contact and the increased value English gained through new synonyms.
Keywords
Middle English, Language Contact, Norman Conquest, French Influence, Lexicon, Borrowing, Central French, Anglo-Norman, Sociolinguistics, Linguistic Change, Bilingualism, Vocabulary, History of English, Social Prestige, Cultural Integration.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
The paper investigates the history of the English language between 1066 and 1400, focusing specifically on the significant influence that the French language exerted on the English lexicon during this period.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The core themes include the sociolinguistic mechanics of language contact, the political history following the Norman Conquest, the development of English national identity, and the linguistic shift from Norman French to Central French.
What is the main research question?
The paper seeks to answer why French continued to influence the English language so persistently even after English had re-established its status as the official language and gained social prestige.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author employs a historical-linguistic analysis, relying on established scholarship (such as Baugh, Thomason, and others) to trace the socio-political events and their direct consequences on language development.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main part covers the two distinct phases of French influence: the early Norman impact (1066-1250) and the later, more profound impact of Central French (1250-1500) amidst social and political changes like the loss of Normandy.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Middle English, Language Contact, Norman Conquest, French Influence, Lexicon, and Central French.
How did the loss of Normandy affect the English language?
The loss of Normandy in 1204 forced the Anglo-Norman nobility to choose between their French estates and their English identity, eventually facilitating the growth of an independent English nation and the re-establishment of English.
What is the difference between Norman French and Central French in this context?
Norman French was the dialect brought by the invaders, while Central French, spoken in Paris, was viewed as more prestigious. Over time, the Anglo-Norman dialect became seen as archaic, and Central French became the target for the educated elite.
What role did the Black Death play in the linguistic situation?
The Black Death of 1348 decimated the working class, which led to a labor shortage. This increased the bargaining power and social standing of the surviving workers, further contributing to the prestige and usage of English.
- Quote paper
- Lydia Albrecht (Author), 2012, Language Contact in the second phase of the French Influence on Middle English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/198945
