Topic 42: The Norman conquest and French influence on the English language.

What major historical event took place in 1066?

The Norman Conquest of England

Who was crowned King of England on Christmas Day 1066?

William the Conqueror

What battle led to the Norman victory in 1066?

The Battle of Hastings

Who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England?

Harold II

What language did the Norman aristocracy speak?

French

What were the origins of the Normans?

They were Northmen (Scandinavians) who settled in northern France

Which treaty was signed in 911 and what was it for?

The Treaty of St Clair-sur-Epte. It recognized the Normans' right to settle in northern France

What did the Normans adopt from French culture?

Language, customs, and religion

What religion did the Normans adopt?

Christianity (Roman Catholicism)

What language did the Church and administration use after the conquest?

Latin

How did England's relationship with Normandy begin before the conquest?

Through the marriage of Aethelred II and Emma of Normandy

Who gave the papal blessing for William's invasion of England?

The Papacy (Pope Alexander II)

What factors led to the English defeat at Hastings?

Simultaneous invasions and the death of Harold II

How did William distribute land to his supporters?

He granted land to fewer than 180 men, making them tenants-in-chief

What feudal obligations did tenants-in-chief owe to William?

Homage, fealty, and military service

What architectural feature symbolized Norman domination?

Castles (about 1000 were built)

What changes occurred in the English Church after the conquest?

Normans took over important church positions and introduced French religious orders

What effect did the Norman Conquest have on the Old English nobility?

It was wiped out and replaced by Norman nobles

Who settled in England along with Norman troops?

Norman merchants and craftsmen

How was the Norman aristocracy linked to continental Europe?

Economically and culturally through France

Why did English people begin learning French?

Due to intermarriage and social advantages

What role did literature play in the use of French?

Most literature was written in French, reinforcing its prestige

What was the social perception of English after the Conquest?

It was seen as an uncultivated language of the lower class

How did urbanization impact language learning?

Townspeople likely increased the number of English speakers learning French

Why did French start to decline after 1200?

England's loss of French territories and rising national identity

What impact did the Hundred Years War have on language use?

It intensified anti-French sentiment and encouraged English use

How did Henry III’s policies affect language?

They brought more French foreigners, delaying English's rise among elites

What social class began speaking English after the Black Death?

The rising middle and lower classes

When did English replace French in courts?

In 1362

How was French viewed in the 15th century?

As a cultivated language of fashion and high culture

How did the Norman Conquest affect English word formation?

Traditional habits decayed, making room for French and Latin loanwords and a shift of grammatical structures

What type of grammar did English shift to post-Conquest?

From a highly inflected to an analytic structure

How did literature contribute to vocabulary change?

English texts adapted from French retained many loanwords

Why did English borrow more from French than vice versa?

The English culture was seen as inferior

What domains saw French vocabulary adoption?

Law, administration, art, fashion, medicine, and daily life

Why were French borrowings quickly integrated?

They served functional roles and carried prestige

What was Anglo-French and how was it perceived?

A hybrid dialect; seen as inferior by native French speakers

How many French words were added during the Middle English period?

Over 10,000, with 75% still in use

What percent of all French borrowings occurred between 1250 and 1400?

40%

What happened to the influx of French words after 1400?

It sharply declined

What grammatical changes were indirectly influenced by French?

The loss of inflectional endings

What are the two main French borrowing periods and their characteristics?

1066-1250: Church-related; 1250-1400: Admin, law, fashion, and art

What effect did the conquest have on the administrative vocabulary?

French replaced or supplemented many native English terms

Why did some nobles retain French longer than others?

They held both English and French territories

How did French influence differ from Latin's on English?

French influence was more direct and extensive in daily vocabulary

How did the rise of English nationalism impact language use?

It contributed to the reestablishment of English in public life

Why did French remain in legal language longer than in other domains?

Due to entrenched administrative and professional practices

How did English regain its status in the 14th century?

Through national identity, social changes, and institutional adoption

How did the Norman conquest influence English-French bilingualism?

Many officials and clergy were fluent in both languages

What defines the French influence as foundational to English vocabulary?

Its range, depth, and enduring presence in modern English