1. Vocabulary Enrichment:
* French Influence: The Norman elite brought with them their French language, which became the language of the court, law, government, and aristocracy. This resulted in a massive influx of French words into English, particularly in areas like law, government, food, fashion, and warfare.
* Examples: words like "court," "government," "parliament," "justice," "beef," "pork," "fashion," "war," "battle" all have French origins.
2. Grammar Changes:
* Simplification: While Old English had complex grammar with many inflections (endings on words), the influence of French, a more analytic language, led to simplification of English grammar.
* Word Order: Old English had more flexible word order, while French influence led to a more fixed subject-verb-object structure.
* Loss of Gender and Case: Old English had grammatical genders and case endings, which largely disappeared.
3. Sound Changes:
* Vowel Shifts: The Great Vowel Shift, a gradual change in pronunciation of vowels over centuries, was influenced by French.
* Consonant Changes: Some consonants, like "k" and "g" before "n", were lost or modified.
4. Formation of New Words:
* Borrowing: English borrowed extensively from French, directly adopting words or creating new words by combining French and English elements.
* Compounding: The combination of words, often from different languages, became more common.
5. Influence on Dialects:
* Regional Differences: Different regions of England developed unique dialects, reflecting varying levels of French influence.
* Social Stratification: Different social classes spoke different forms of English, with the upper classes speaking more French-influenced language.
Beyond the immediate impact:
* Continued French Influence: English continued to borrow words from French throughout the Middle Ages and beyond, enriching its vocabulary even further.
* Emergence of Modern English: By the 15th century, a new, more standardized form of English emerged, drawing from both Germanic and French roots, forming the basis of modern English.
The Norman Conquest was a pivotal moment in the history of the English language. It led to a major transformation, shaping English into the rich and complex language we know today.