83K views · 2.3K reactions | #English #Germanic #linguistics #language #languages #history #vocabulary | Linguistic Discovery | Facebook

In 11th century England a division of language emerged after William the Conqueror and his Normans invaded the land. The nobility carried out royal and legal dealings in a refined French tongue while the common Anglo Saxons continued speaking an old Germanic language. Over nearly three centuries the two languages gradually blended as numerous French words found their way into everyday speech. This mixing paved the way for Middle English a richer and more flexible tongue. | The History Page