Vocabulary:
* Introduction of French words: The Norman rulers, speaking Old French, brought with them a large influx of French vocabulary, particularly in areas like government, law, military, food, and fashion. Words like "government," "parliament," "judge," "beef," "pork," and "fashion" are all of French origin.
* Borrowing and Dualism: The English language borrowed heavily from French, leading to a situation where many words had both English and French equivalents. For example, "sheep" (Old English) vs. "mutton" (French), or "house" vs. "mansion." This dualism persists to this day, reflecting the linguistic influence of the Norman Conquest.
* Loss of Old English words: While some Old English words survived, others were replaced or became less common as French words gained prominence. This led to a notable shift in the vocabulary used by the upper classes.
Grammar:
* Simplified syntax: The French language, with its more straightforward syntax, influenced English grammar, leading to a simplification of sentence structure compared to Old English.
* Pronoun changes: The use of possessive pronouns like "my" and "your" gained prominence in English, replacing the Old English system.
Pronunciation:
* Shifting sounds: The Norman influence introduced new sounds and changed the pronunciation of existing sounds. The "k" sound before "n" in Old English words like "knife" and "knee" changed to the "f" sound, reflecting a French pronunciation.
* Loss of inflections: Old English had a more complex system of inflections, marking grammatical relationships through changes in word endings. These inflections gradually disappeared under the influence of French, leading to a simpler grammatical structure.
Overall:
* Bilingualism: The Norman Conquest led to a period of bilingualism in England, with French being the language of the ruling class and English primarily spoken by the common people. This eventually resulted in the merging of these languages into a new hybrid language: Middle English.
In summary, the Norman Conquest drastically reshaped the English language, leading to a dramatic shift in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. It created a fascinating linguistic mix that continues to influence English today.