Re: A Stupid question.

From: Chris Mattern (matternc_at_comcast.net)
Date: 05/12/04 

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 11:07:34 -0400

Ian Wilson wrote:

> Ala Qumsieh wrote:
>
>> English was more influenced by other languages like French and Spanish
>> due to the larger role of the British empire in history.
>
> AFAIK English was influenced by French largely because England was
> invaded by Normans from France in 1066. After the usual round of
> genocide and subjugation, the provincial Norman variety of French
> remained the official language of English government for hundreds of
> years. This was long before the British Empire came into existence.
>
> Just my two farthings worth.

Yep. English before the Norman Invasion is now literally a foreign
language to us; we can't read things like Beowulf unless they are
translated. But English after the Normans were integrated is readable,
if difficult. The Canterbury Tales can be read if they are just
annotated for the modern reader. 

-- 
             Christopher Mattern
"Which one you figure tracked us?"
"The ugly one, sir."
"...Could you be more specific?"

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