Download or read book The French Influence on Middle English written by Nadja Litschko and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2004-04-12 with total page 20 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2 (B), http://www.uni-jena.de/ (Anglistics/ American Studies), course: PS Introduction to Chaucer's Middle English, language: English, abstract: The English language has undergone tremendous changes over the years of its development from Old English to the Modern English as it is known today. During that time, especially during the Middle English period, several other languages exerted a significant influence and were therefore partly responsible for the changes brought to English over the years. These languages were Latin, French and Old Norse. This paper will focus on the influence of the French language on Middle English, brought on by the Norman Conquest through William the Conqueror. First there will be an explanation of the historical events, which preceded the developments in the England. Afterwards the focus of this paper will rest on the effect of the French language on the Middle English vocabulary, spelling and phonology. This will be explained on the example of an extract of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Nun's Priest Tale. During the course of this paper it will be proved that the French language was one of the main influences, which affected the English language during the Middle Ages.
Download or read book The French Influence on Middle English Morphology written by Christiane Dalton-Puffer and published by Walter de Gruyter. This book was released on 2011-05-02 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The future of English linguistics as envisaged by the editors of Topics in English Linguistics lies in empirical studies which integrate work in English linguistics into general and theoretical linguistics on the one hand, and comparative linguistics on the other. The TiEL series features volumes that present interesting new data and analyses, and above all fresh approaches that contribute to the overall aim of the series, which is to further outstanding research in English linguistics.
Download or read book The french influence on the english vocabulary in middle english written by Claudia Stehr and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2007-05-13 with total page 18 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2000 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,3, Technical University of Braunschweig (Englisches Seminar), course: Historical Linguistics, language: English, abstract: The French influence on the English vocabulary had its greatest expansion in the period of the Middle English (1150 – 1500). During this time over 10,000 French words were adapted into the English language and about 75 per cent of these are still in use. The reasons for that are, firstly, the bilingualism in England which had been prevailing since the Norman Conquest in 1066. Secondly, the English culture was regarded as inferior, i.e. it had more to gain from the language spoken by the upper classes. Although, these extensive changes were important for the improvement of the English language, there were also disadvantages to it. The loss of native words, the different Middle English dialects, the need of a Standard English are only some examples for this. Does that mean the English we speak today would not have been the same, if there had been no French influence? Undoubtedly, every influence on something does change the circumstances of it, otherwise it would not be an influence. The question now would be, if English really profited from the French language or if it was more a drawback to its further development. I want to deal with this matter of fact in my research paper. I will show the historical conditions from the Norman Conquest up to the 15th century in a diachronical way, as it is important to know about the situation in England at that time to understand the changes in the English language. As the French influence hardly affected the English grammar, I only consider the changes in the vocabulary. I also briefly refer to other language borrowings to show that the French influence was not the only one, but the most effective in the period of great change – the Middle English.
Download or read book Language and Culture in Medieval Britain written by Jocelyn Wogan-Browne and published by Boydell & Brewer Ltd. This book was released on 2013 with total page 562 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essays in this volume form a new cultural history focused round, but not confined to, the presence and interactions of francophone speakers, writers, readers, texts and documents in England from the 11th to the later 15th century.
Download or read book Language Contact in the second phase of the French Influence on Middle English written by Lydia Albrecht and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2012-08-15 with total page 23 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,3, University of Potsdam, course: Seminar Middle English, language: English, abstract: 1. Introduction I started learning English as my first foreign language at the age of eight, followed by French as the second at the age of eleven. Soon, I recognised similarities of the vocabulary of the two languages, not knowing why, since the grammatical structure and the declension of nouns etc. was obviously different. Of course, I was too young to think it over. However, during my studies of English linguistics I was taught the basic knowledge about the relation between French and English. Since I had learned that most of the words I knew from French were also borrowed into English, I was particularly interested in the process of this phenomenon. Which events and developments were responsible for the adoption of so many words? The Middle English period was characterised by many changes- both in its social and linguistic situation. In 1066 the Norman Conquest occurred marking the starting point of the most influencing era throughout the history of the English language. After the Conquest there were two main waves of immigration. Firstly, French upper class people migrated to the occupied British Island bringing their language with them, and English lost its status as the official language. Secondly, about two hundred years later, those French people lost their connection to the continent, when king John lost Normandy, and English was about to reinforce again. However, soon new French invasions occurred and a new French variety was brought to the Island which led to an increasing number of new vocabulary and the English language had to be enforced a second time. (Baugh, 1991) This raises the question why French prevailed in the English language that persistently, although English had been reinforced and had already gained prestige again. This is the matter of interest in this research paper which is concerned with the history of the English language between 1066 and 1400. Generally, it deals with the French influence on the English language, but focusses especially on the impact of Central French, which took place in the second phase (1250- 1500) where most of the vocabulary was adopted.
Download or read book What Influence did French have on English During the Middle English Period written by Bahar Ilk and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2016-03-11 with total page 19 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,3, University of Duisburg-Essen, language: English, abstract: This term paper is going to examine the occurrence and the influence of French words on English language. The French language has always played a significant role in English. According to Scheler, 38 per cent of English words are of French origin. This high amount leads to the result that almost half of the English vocabulary are of French origin. Due to this striking high set of statistics, the reasons for this will be examined in this paper. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of French language on English language during the medieval period. This fact has been particularly pronounced over the last decades. Thus, French had influenced the English lexicon a lot due to the Norman invasion. Where two languages exist side by side for a long time, a huge delivery of words from one language to the other is inevitable. A lot of Old English words were replaced by borrowed items, from the French language. Hence, French remnants can be found a lot in English language. In certain cases, there are striking similarities between both languages, which is interesting to analyse. First, it starts with a short introduction of the historical background from the French influence on the English language. French influence is direct and observable upon the vocabulary. There will be some examples of borrowed word fields. Regardingly, derivational affixes from Old French into Middle English play a leading role in this term paper as well. In addition, the focus will also be set on the phonological difference between Norman French and Parisian French and on their influence on English language. The development of these words and their loan into the English language are enormous. Throughout the investigation, one can assume that French had influenced English the most in terms of lexicon, vocabulary and suffixation. If William the Conqueror had not invaded England in 1066, the vocabulary of English language would have looked very different. There would have existed a lot of Old English vocabulary in present day English.
Download or read book A History of the English Language written by Albert Croll Baugh and published by . This book was released on 1963 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The Anglo Norman Language and Its Contexts written by Richard Ingham and published by Boydell & Brewer Ltd. This book was released on 2010 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Collection examining the Anglo-Norman language in a variety of texts and contexts, in military, legal, literary and other forms.
Download or read book French Elements in Middle English written by Frederick Henry Sykes and published by Oxford, Eng. : Hart. This book was released on 1899 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue written by John McWhorter and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2009-10-27 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar Why do we say “I am reading a catalog” instead of “I read a catalog”? Why do we say “do” at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century ad, John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor. Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English— and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for (and no, it’s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition).
Download or read book The influence of the French language on the English language written by Angelika Felser and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2017-10-19 with total page 14 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essay from the year 1998 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, University of Münster, language: English, abstract: This paper deals with the influence of the French language on the English language. The English was replaced by the French nobility. A bilingual situation was predominant: Whereas people from the upper class spoke the French language, people from lower classes spoke English. The French nobility led a separate life from ordinary people. The English language was considered to be inferior to the French language, and only people like merchants who wanted to communicate with people from the lower classes had to know the English language.
Download or read book French Influence on the English Languange in the Middle English Period written by Dana Melzer and published by Grin Publishing. This book was released on 2009 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2008 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 2,3, University of Leipzig (Institut für Anglistik), course: Sprachwandel Englisch, language: English, abstract: The English language has undergone immense changes over the years of its development from Old English to Modern English as it is known today. It has been shaped by a number of other languages over the centuries. During the Old English period the English language, which was based on the dialects of three Germanic tribes (Angles, Jutes and Saxons), was already influenced by different invading armies like the Celts (Celtic), the Roman missionaries (Latin) and the Viking raiders (Old-Norse). But especially during the Middle English period (1150 - 1500) another language, namely French, exerted a significant influence on the English language and were therefore responsible for great changes brought to English over the years. During this time over 10,000 French words were adopted into English and about 75 per cent of these are still in use. But changes did not just happen in the English vocabulary. The grammar (mainly word order), the spelling and pronounciation had to undergo changes, as well. It was a period of great change where English turned from an inflected language with a relatively free word order into a language with reduced inflection and a more rigid word order. The linguistic justification for considering the end of the 15th century as the end of the Middle English period is the complete restructuring of the English vowel system that affected all long stressed vowels known as the Great Vowel Shift. Although, these enormous changes were important for the improvement of the English language, there were also disadvantages to it. The loss of native words, the different Middle English dialects and the need of a Standard English are only some examples for this. This paper will focus on the French influence on Middle English from the Norman Conq
Download or read book French Loan Words in the English Language written by and published by GRIN Verlag. This book was released on 2013-12-02 with total page 13 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Seminar paper from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Linguistics, grade: 1,3, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (Englisches Seminar), course: English Lexicology: Words and their Meaning, language: English, abstract: The dates for the beginning and end of the Middle English period are rather controversial. But many linguists do agree that by 1100 certain changes to the English language were sufficiently well established to justify the use of the adjective middle to designate the language in what was actually a phase of transition from the English of the early Middle Ages – Old English – to that of the first printed books at the end of the 15th century. During this period many changes occurred that may be noted in nearly every aspect of the language: in its phonology, its semantics and in its lexicon, where many Old English words were replaced by borrowed items from the French language. But although the French influence did not cease with the end of the 15th century, due to its size of merely seven pages this term paper will concentrate on the Middle English period. Starting with a short introduction to the historical background of the French Influence on the English language, there will be examples of the borrowed vocabulary, explanations why they were borrowed and how they can be further distinguished into loan words from Norman and Central French. Moreover, there will be an analysis of how the process of borrowing led to the highly distinctive vocabulary of the English language regarding register and style. The structure of this term paper is chronological as it seemed to be the most appropriate regarding the historical nature of this paper’s topic.
Download or read book Cursor Mundi written by Anonymous and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2023-04-17 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Reprint of the original, first published in 1874.
Download or read book Twentieth Century Borrowings from French to English written by Julia Landmann and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2013-01-16 with total page 590 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: French has long been the donor language par excellence in the history of English. French has contributed to the English vocabulary in the form of new words since before the Norman Conquest. The French influence on the English lexicon represents the focus of linguistic concern in a considerable number of investigations of the language and its development. Yet French borrowings which have recently been adopted into English have as yet figured little if at all in such studies. The present study sets out to shed light on the French impact on English in the recent past. The results presented in this book are based on a corpus of 1677 twentieth-century French borrowings collected from the Oxford English Dictionary Online. On the basis of their meanings, the words under consideration have been assigned to different subject fields in order to give a tour d’horizon of the manifold areas and spheres of life enriched by French in recent times. The first part of the present investigation concentrates on the phonological and orthographical reception of the various borrowings. The focus of this study is on the semantic development of the French borrowings in comparison to their sources in the donor language. Emphasis has been placed upon analysing whether a particular meaning a borrowing assumes after its first attested use is taken over from French, or whether it represents an independent semantic change within English.
Download or read book The Transmission of Anglo Norman written by Richard P. Ingham and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2012-10-17 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This investigation contributes to issues in the study of second language transmission by considering the well-documented historical case of Anglo-Norman. Within a few generations of the establishment of this variety, its phonology diverged sharply from that of continental French, yet core syntactic distinctions continued to be reliably transmitted. The dissociation of phonology from syntax transmission is related to the age of exposure to the language in the experience of ordinary users of the language. The input provided to children acquiring language in a naturalistic communicative setting, even though one of a school institution, enabled them to acquire target-like syntactic properties of the inherited variety. In addition, it allowed change to take place along the lines of transmission by incrementation. A linguistic environment combining the ‘here-and-now’ aspects of ordinary first language acquisition with the growing cognitive complexity of an educational meta-language appears to have been adequate for this variety to be transmitted as a viable entity that encoded the public life of England for centuries.
Download or read book A History of the English Language written by Elly van Gelderen and published by John Benjamins Publishing Company. This book was released on 2014-04-03 with total page 359 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The English language in its complex shapes and forms changes fast. This thoroughly revised edition has been refreshed with current examples of change and has been updated regarding archeological research. Most suggestions brought up by users and reviewers have been incorporated, for instance, a family tree for Germanic has been added, Celtic influence is highlighted much more, there is more on the origin of Chancery English, and internal and external change are discussed in much greater detail. The philosophy of the revised book remains the same with an emphasis on the linguistic history and on using authentic texts. My audience remains undergraduates (and beginning graduates). The goals of the class and the book are to come to recognize English from various time periods, to be able to read each stage with a glossary, to get an understanding of typical language change, internal and external, and to understand something about language typology through the emphasis on the change from synthetic to analytic. This book has a companion website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1075/z.183.website
