What is one example where modern English language reflects the high status of the Norman's and the low status of the English?

Answer 1

One clear example of the status distinction in modern English is the use of the words "beef" and "cow." The term "beef" comes from the Norman French word "boef," reflecting the status of the Norman rulers and their language, while "cow" derives from the Old English "cū," indicating the lower status of the English-speaking peasantry who tended to the animals. This linguistic division highlights the social hierarchy established after the Norman Conquest, where the ruling class used French and the working class spoke English.