Effect of the Normans on Middle English Essay -- Papers

Effect of the Normans on Middle slopeThe year 1066 had a resounding impact on the course of English history. William the First, Duke of Normandy, conquered England and took it as a stronghold in his reign. The cut rule everyplace England lasted for several centuries and brought well-nigh innumerable changes to the English state, wording, culture and lifestyle. William imported French rulers to take over English government and religious posts. The French were non only the smart aristocracy in England, but the new society. The English amended their language and their culture in an effort to more resemble the French and to authorise with their new lords. The English language was more changed by the Norman success than by any other event in the course of English history. Middle English is defined as the four hundred year period between the Norman Conquest and the time the printing promote was introduced to England in 1476. This essay will explore the specific effects that the F rench had on Middle English morphology, phonology, syntax, semantics and lexicon. During the period of French rule in England the standing of English as a valid language dropped substantially as French took over as the status language. Because so a lot of the French influence has been nativized by present-day speakers, many do not realize the impact that our language took in the years following 1066. non one aspect of English life went untouched by the Norman presence in England, notably, its language. Phonology In addition to introducing new manner of speaking into the English language, the Normans also introduced some new sounds. The English had previously had no phonemic distinction between /f/ and /v/ /v/ was hardly an allophone of /f/ that occurred between vowels. Howeve... ...eculate what the English language might look standardized today if the Normans had never invaded Britain. However, suffice it to say, the present English language has been extensively enriched by t he quantity of this foreign influence. BibliographyAlexander, James W. William I, King of England, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1996. Burrow, J.A. and Thorlac Turnville-Petre. A Book of Middle English, Blackwell Publishers Oxford. 1992. Fisiak, Jacek. A Short Grammar of Middle English, Oxford University Press London, 1968. Millward, C.M. A Biography of the English Language, Harcourt Brace Boston. 1996. Take Our Word For It, weekly online publication, usable at http//www.takeourword.com Yerkes, David. English Language, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1996. Yerkes, David. Middle English, Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1996.