@675,099
> That’s a very oversimplified — and historically shaky — take. English is a Germanic language at its core, descended from Old English, which developed from the Anglo-Frisian dialects brought to Britain by the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes from around the 5th century. That’s several centuries before the Normans showed up in 1066.
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> Yes, the Norman invasion had a massive influence — it introduced a huge amount of French (and by extension Latin) vocabulary, especially in law, governance, and the upper classes. But it didn’t replace English. It shaped it. The grammar, syntax, and basic vocabulary of English remain fundamentally Germanic.
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> To say the French "created" English is like saying the Italians created Spanish because of Latin roots. It’s not how languages evolve.
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> So if you're genuinely interested in respect or history, drop the attitude and read up properly - instead of shouting "moron" while butchering linguistic history.
@675,165
> I'm not an ingrate but give credit where it's due. Also, bringing the fury with all caps is hilarious.
French was the official language of the upper classes until Henry V. I like to helpfully point this out to English friends, as well as how complex words and concepts so often have French/Latin origin. Absent the Normans, England would be some weird Danish hybrid.