THE NORMAN INFLUENCE
When the Normans conquered England in 1066 and the years which followed, they also
introduced their native Norman French and, for the third time, Latin. This was
the most important introduction of Latin into the English Language.
Following the conquest, the Norman ruling classes spoke Norman French and official
business, particularly documents, was conducted in Latin. The subjugated Saxon
population clung to its Old English for a time.
In time, as the two races intermingled, so did their Old English and Norman French
languages giving us the basis of Modern English. Despite the fusion, the basis of the
language, including our most common words and grammar stayed true to the
Old English of the Saxons.
Those words which deal with the law, warfare and the chase were introduced into the
language by the Normans. An example is the
"Oh Yes, oh yes"
of the town crier which derives from the Norman-French
oyez -
the imperative of oyer,
to hear.
Some of the words introduced by the Normans were directly from the Latin, others
were introduced through Norman-French;
Examples of other words which have survived into our time through Norman French are;
basket,
bran and
gown.
