First cousin rivalry continues (2)

So how do you think these two extremely disparate languages blended into the modern language we call English? Of course that did not happen overnight, but as the Norman aristocracy took over from the Anglo-Saxon nobility, the language at court and in the Church changed to French. William the Conqueror came over the English Channel, with 4000-7000 knights and foot soldiers, all of whom of course spoke French. The clergy also used Latin alongwith Norman French. 

The ordinary peasant, carpenter, soldier of Anglo-Saxon origin continued to use Old English, which slowly dwindled down to approximately the 1500 words we use in oral communication, even today. The aristocracy used both, courtly French to address the King and his council of advisers and Anglo-Saxon to talk to the peasants and other people that served them. 

The children of the aristocracy grew up bilingual, with Norman French and Middle English, both spoken in their households. This continued till the 14th century, when finally what we call Modern English, emerged as a blend of the two languages…

Watch this space for the next instalment, where we will explore the connections between them.

1066: the Norman Conquest, bury your fury for the English language