The French Language in England

Rollo (Göngu-Hrólfur) The Normans

William the Conqueror 1066

The main linguistic effects of the Norman invasion Secular and religious authorities became French Old English spelling traditions were lost English came to be written as it was spoken Dialectal differences appeared

The main linguistic effects of the Norman invasion The changes that had occurred since the Norse invasions, now appeared for the first time in the witten language

The French Language in England Norman French is the native language of the nobility. Probably not a great deal of bilingualism. Small numbers of French loans enter English.

1204 Loss of Normandy. French is the cultivated, prestige language. Norman French loses prestige and the nobility begin to look to Paris for their norm. The French Language in England

Difference between Norman French and Central (Parisian) French NORMAN FRENCH retained k cattle castle carpenter cauldron carry catch  retained g garden gaol PARISIAN FRENCH k has become chattels chair charity chief change chase  g has become joy jest jail in some environments g survives only in spelling

Difference between Norman French and Central (Parisian) French NORMAN FRENCH is retained in catch w in Germanic loanwords while ward(en) William war wasp PARISIAN FRENCH has become s in chase w becomes g(w) guile gardian Guy (guerre, guêpe)

1204 Loss of Normandy. French is the cultivated, prestige language. Norman French loses prestige and the nobility begin to look to Paris for their norm. There is a diglossic situation, with French the high-prestige, English the low-prestige variety. The French Language in England

Diglossia Prestige hus mus haus maus Enry Henry Examples from Modern English: Arthur Harthur

Diglossia Prestige hew colour neat beef stench scent athling prince Examples from Middle English:

1204 Loss of Normandy. French is the cultivated, prestige language. Norman French loses prestige and the nobility begin to look to Paris for their norm. There is a diglossic situation, with French the high-prestige, English the low-prestige variety. Large numbers of French loans enter English The French Language in England

English becomes the dominant language, but French remains dominant in literature and at the court. Increasing evidence of imperfect knowledge of French amongst the nobility. Although the knowledge of French is waning, its linguistic prestige can be seen by still increasing numbers of French loans in English. The French Language in England

The Hundred Years' War with France The Black Death. 30% mortality. Labour shortage, wage rises, increasing importance of the English-speaking classes 1386 English accepted in the courts ('Statute of Pleading') Two major English poets at the end of the 14th century: –Gower writes mostly in French (but composes one long work Confessio amantis, in English) –Chaucer writes almost entirely in English. Evidence of private letters: –1350: French is the rule. –After 1400: English becomes common. –After 1450: English is the rule. The French Language in England Factors contributing to the decline of French:

Jeo prie a la Benoit Trinite que vous ottroie bone vie ove tresentier sauntee a treslonge durre, and sende yowe sone to ows in helþ and prosperitee for, in god fey, I hope to Al Mighty God that, yef ye come youre owne persone, ye schulle have the victorie of alle your enemyes. And for salvation of oure Schire and Marches al aboute, treste ye nought to no Leutenaunt. Escript a Hereford, en tresgraunte haste, a trois de la clocke apres noone, le tierce jour de Septembre. Richard Winston, Dean of Windsor, to the King 1403 Baugh fn 195 p. 151

Baugh: 1000 French words at random before (statistics in footnote to §133, p th edn)

NB first recorded occurence in a written text status of French Baugh: 1000 French words