French influence on the English language

1. Influence of
French on the
English language

2. ENGLISH

3. Old English begins
with the Germanic
invasions in the 5th
century

5. Three German tribes invaded
Britannia: the Saxons, the Angles
and the Jutes.
They spoke Germanic dialects
which were adopted by the local
population.

6. The languages of
these tribes
evolved into the
English Language

7. Anglo-Saxon words:
• Most of these words are short,
consisting of no more than one or
two syllables: Home, child,
roof…
• They are associated with informality
or colloquial language

8. There is an expression in
Modern English:
“Speaking Anglo-
Saxon” which means
“plain, blunt speaking”.

9. Another expression
“Anglo-Saxon words “
is a euphemism for
obscene four-letter words
like shit, arse…

10. On the other hand, Latin or
French words are associated
with formality and status:
allegory, custody, history,
poetry…

11. NORMAN
FRENCH

12. The Norman Conquest in
1066 meant a great change
for the English language.
The Normans spoke a
French dialect, and many
of their words were
passed on into English.

15. This meant a change,
not only in
vocabulary, but also
in the grammar of the
English language.

16. There is still a street in
Southampton called
French Street, a location
where many French
merchants and Settlers
established their business
and homes.

18. VOCABULARY

19. The names people used changed:
Native pre-conquest names were
mainly West Germanic,
Scandinavian and Celtic:
Godwine, Egbert, Alfred…
After the conquest most of these
names had been replaced by :
John, Peter, Simon, Stephen…

20. Humble jobs kept their Anglo-Saxon
names:
Baker
Miller
Shoemaker

21. More skilled jobs adopted French names:
Mason Painter Tailor
merchant…

22. While the animals in the field kept
their English names: Sheep, cow,
calf, pig, deer…
Once cooked and served their
names became French: Mutton,
beef, veal, pork, bacon,
venison…

23. Sheep Mutton

24. Cow or bull Beef

25. Calf (young cow) Veal

26. Pig Pork, bacon

27. Deer (ciervo) Venison

28. In many cases, French words replaced
Old English words…
Leod became People
Eam became uncle

29. In other cases a French word
combined an English one to
produce a new word:
Gentle + man =
gentleman

30. Sometimes, both, English and French
words survived…
Odour = smell
Pardon = Forgive
Mansion = House
Hearty = Cordial

31. In some occasions, a third word was
used from Latin, forming a triplet:
Old English French Latin
ASK QUESTION INTERROGATE
LAND COUNTRY TERRITORY
FAST FIRM SECURE
TALE STORY NARRATIVE

32. PRONUNCIATION

33. Norman French was harsher
and more gutural than the
softer Francien dialect of
Paris.
The Normans used a hard “c”
sound instead of the softer
Francien “ch”…

34. So that French CHARRIER became CARRY

35. CHAULDRON BECAME CAULDRON

36. The Normans, and therefore the English,
retained the “s” in words like:
English ___ French (Paris)
STATE état
FOREST forêt
BEAST bête

37. Spelling

38. Norman-French scribes wrote official and
religious documents, this fact lead to
confusion as they adapted the Old English
spelling to the spelling of their native
Norman French.

39. Cwen became Queen

40. Scip became Ship

41. Luve became Love

42. Bricge became Bridge

43. Grammar

44. The “–en” plural disappeared
Housen  houses

45. The –en plural only remains in
words such as:
Children

46. Oxen (bueyes)

47. Brethren (hermandad)

48. One of the most important changes was
the disappearance of the inflectional
system.
Most inflections were replaced by the
final sound “schwa”

49. Read the following words ending with /ə/
• palace /pæləs/
• april /eprəl/
• theatre /θiətə/
• doctor /dɑktə/
• dungeon /dəndʒən/
• decision /dəsɪʒən/
• tortoise /tɔrtəs/

50. THE END