Here's why:
* Anglo-Saxon (Old English) was the language of England before the Norman Conquest in 1066. It formed the foundation of Middle English, providing the bulk of the vocabulary related to everyday life, nature, and basic concepts.
* Norman French became prominent after the Norman Conquest when William the Conqueror and his followers brought their language with them. It heavily influenced the language of the court, law, government, and higher society, contributing a vast number of words related to administration, law, food, fashion, and warfare.
While other languages, like Latin and Scandinavian, also had some influence on Middle English, the primary contributions came from Old English and Norman French, creating a linguistic blend that shaped the language we know today.