Write a brief essay on French borrowings
in the English Language.
The conquest of England in
1066 by William of Normandy was destined to have a profound impact on the life
and language of the English people as well, and as such that it changed the
whole course of the language. It is an interesting historical fact that the
Normans were closely related both to the English and their Scandinavian
conquerors. The Scandinavian invaders in England mingled with the Anglo-Saxons
and the language that resulted from the fusion was Teutonic to a high degree.
But the Franks and the Scandinavians who settled in Normandy adopted French,
the language of the conquered people. But it should be noted that at that time
there was no standard French language; there were only a number of dialects,
descending from colloquial Latin. Among them that of Normandy was one which was
introduced into England after Norman Conquest. Perhaps it is a psychological
fact that the Normans wanted to be called in by the terms of the conquered
people in the highest level, that is, king and queen, which are English. But
the names of most of the officers of the state and the names of the governing
bodies and their activities are French--chancellor, minister, state,
government, parliament, assembly etc.
Again, as a result of
feudalism and manorial system which were imported from France, a number of
words entered the English vocabulary—fief, feudal, vassal. The native words
lord, lady and earl remained in esteem, but most of the designations of rank
are French---prince, princess, peer, duke, duchess, baron, etc. Moreover, sir,
madam, master, mistress, were introduced by the Normans.
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