* Latin: While Latin influence existed before the Norman Conquest, the conquest brought a significant influx of Latin words and structures into English through the church and the legal system.
* The Norman rulers established a Latin-based legal system and government administration.
* The Church, which used Latin for religious services and texts, became a major force in shaping English.
* French: The Norman Conquest brought with it a new ruling class who spoke Old French. This resulted in:
* Borrowing of French words: French became the language of the court, law, and high society, leading to the borrowing of many French words into English.
* Shifting of language dominance: While Old English remained the language of the common people, French became the dominant language for many years. This led to the blending of the two languages and the development of Middle English.
Therefore, the Norman Conquest, with its profound impact on the political, social, and cultural landscape of England, provided the perfect conditions for English to be heavily influenced by both Latin and French.