Because the language of the Normans was French.
Normans had settled in France and spoke French by the time they invaded England, some generations later. The purpose of using French was to allow them to communicate.
Hastings, 1066............
Modern English is fusion of Old English ( which has a lot of Norse in it ) and Norman French. With the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, French became the official language there. A few centuries later, Middle English literature appears - with a great deal of French vocabulary and grammar. Modern English is dated roughly from Shakespeare' s time.
French became the official language of France in the 16th century during the reign of King Francis I.
It wasn't so much that they WANTED to become bilingual. The Normans spoke French, so when they conquered and took over, they insisted the preexisting Saxon nobility, who spoke a form of Germanic known as Old English, had to learn how to speak French too or else they could not participate in matters of state. It caused a lot of animosity between Saxons and Normans. This influx of French culture into England shifted the language from Old English into Middle English, a mix of old Germanic influences and French influences. That is why English has many words for the same thing, yet Germanic terms are considered simplistic, and French-origin terms are considered poetic. For instance, the night sky can be "black," a Germanic term, or it can be "sable," an Old French term.
The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 allowed for English to be influenced by Latin and French. Following the conquest, the Normans introduced their language and culture to England, resulting in Latin and French words being adopted into the English language.
French was spoken in England for about 300 years after the Norman Conquest in 1066. It began to decline in the 14th century and was phased out as the official language by the 15th century.
The Normans introduced Norman French to England after the Norman Conquest in 1066. This had a significant impact on the English language, leading to the development of Middle English.
The Norman Conquest in 1066 brought the French language and influence to England, leading to a significant increase in French vocabulary in the English language. This resulted in English becoming a hybrid language with both Germanic and Romance influences, shaping its development into Modern English.
French became a language spoken in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, became King of England. The Norman rulers and nobility brought their language with them, and it gradually influenced and merged with the Old English spoken by the local population, leading to the evolution of Middle English.
French words were introduced to the English language after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. This event resulted in a significant influence of French language and culture on English, leading to the incorporation of many French words into the English vocabulary.
About 30% of English words are believed to have French origin. This is due to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, which introduced a significant amount of French vocabulary into the English language.
English gradually replaced French as the primary language of England between the 14th and 15th centuries after the Norman Conquest in 1066. By the late 14th century, English had become the dominant language in legal and administrative matters, and by the early 15th century, French had largely fallen out of everyday use.
Normans had settled in France and spoke French by the time they invaded England, some generations later. The purpose of using French was to allow them to communicate.
In the year 1066, Old English was the primary language spoken in England. Norman French was also used by the ruling elite after the Norman Conquest.
No, French is not the official language of England. The official language of England is English.
For two hundred years after the Norman Conquest in 1066, French became the official language of the English court. When William conquered England he made his officers the English Nobility. They spoke French. The common people continued speaking Anglo Saxon. The common people raised cows. The French nobility ate beef. The mixture of words helped create the English language. _____ English has always been the language of the nation of England. For some period of time French was the only language used by European diplomats.