Here's a breakdown of how French developed:
* Vulgar Latin: The Latin spoken by ordinary people in Gaul was a less formal version of the language used by the educated elite. This "Vulgar Latin" had its own unique pronunciations, vocabulary, and grammatical features.
* Frankish Influence: After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Frankish tribes conquered Gaul. Their language, a Germanic tongue, influenced the evolving Vulgar Latin, contributing new words and sounds.
* Old French: By the 9th century, the language spoken in northern France had become distinct from Latin, evolving into Old French. This was the first recognizable stage of the French language.
* Middle French: Between the 14th and 16th centuries, Old French underwent significant changes, leading to the development of Middle French. This stage saw the standardization of the language and the emergence of a literary tradition.
* Modern French: The French language we know today evolved from Middle French through further changes in pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary.
The development of French from Latin is a fascinating example of how languages evolve over time through contact, adaptation, and change.