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  • Sagi Keun
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41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« on: January 16, 2022, 02:17:49 pm »
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41% of the ENGLISH LANGUAGE is FRENCH. How did this happen?

We look at the history of the English language and particularly why there are so many French words and expressions in English. We'll also discuss the Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings and more. In part two Jon and Gideon look at French expressions that we still use in English today. If you're a native speaker or you're learning English you'll find this interesting.



Every time I have done a lesson on the history of the English language, my Korean adult classes have loved it.

The reason being, Korean students can see many points in common with the history of England and how the two languages formed!

I learned about the history of the English Language at Uni. If you didn't, the above video might get you interested. Fascinating topic.
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  • VanIslander
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2022, 03:38:29 am »
There is 33 km between England and France.

The influence of a Latin language from Rome extends further West than North or East.
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2022, 07:43:09 pm »
Quote from: VanIslander on January 17, 2022, 03:38:29 am
There is 33 km between England and France.

The influence of a Latin language from Rome extends further West than North or East.

That's right :)
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  • hangook77
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #3 on: January 18, 2022, 08:34:55 am »
All these guys named Norman came over from France to reclaim some supposed title back in 1066 yonder.

Grammatically, Norweigan and Dutch are suppose to be some of the easiest languages to pick up for an English speaker.  French as a Romance language is different from ours but due to the number of loan words can be understood.  (These languages can be picked up when reading it more than speaking though you may hear or recognize some words.)
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  • Sagi Keun
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #4 on: January 18, 2022, 09:20:04 pm »
Quote from: hangook77 on January 18, 2022, 08:34:55 am
Grammatically, Norweigan and Dutch are suppose to be some of the easiest languages to pick up for an English speaker. 

I wonder why Norwegian? because the vikings that invaded the north of England were from Denmark.

https://sciencenordic.com/denmark-society--culture-videnskabdk/why-danish-vikings-moved-to-england/1442885
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  • hangook77
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2022, 09:32:17 am »
Quote from: Sagi Keun on January 18, 2022, 09:20:04 pm
I wonder why Norwegian? because the vikings that invaded the north of England were from Denmark.

https://sciencenordic.com/denmark-society--culture-videnskabdk/why-danish-vikings-moved-to-england/1442885

Possibly.  Lots of French words, but grammar structure and other such things seem more linked.  Actually I was goofing off on google maps and went down to Norway and read some of their signs.  Some familiarity though of course many words I didn't know. 
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  • Liechtenstein
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2022, 09:38:29 am »
French is a beautiful language when spoken properly. Which is to say not by a Quebecer and sure as heck not by an Acadian New Brunswicker.
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  • Kyndo
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #7 on: May 17, 2022, 10:10:00 am »
Quote from: Sagi Keun on January 18, 2022, 09:20:04 pm
I wonder why Norwegian? because the vikings that invaded the north of England were from Denmark.

https://sciencenordic.com/denmark-society--culture-videnskabdk/why-danish-vikings-moved-to-england/1442885
I suspect it's because the folk in Denmark and Norway back in the day spoke the same language up until around 900AD when they diverged into Old Norse (Denmark etc ) And Old West Norse (Norway etc).

Danish subsequently was influenced by Germanic languages (and just general weirdness), while Norwegian has changed the least since ye olde days, retaining most of the grammar and pronunciation that the Normans contributed to English.
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  • hangook77
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2022, 02:13:15 pm »
Quote from: Liechtenstein on May 17, 2022, 09:38:29 am
French is a beautiful language when spoken properly. Which is to say not by a Quebecer and sure as heck not by an Acadian New Brunswicker.

Je mange a la poutine avec le watching TV ce soir, la!
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745sticky, Augustiner, Bakeacake, D.L.Orean, Lazio, Mithras, Renma, Rye are losers who are blocked.  Good riddance to them. They will still be in Korea 10 years from now unless they are retired.  Either way, they will be poor since all they know how to do is troll rather than work for something more

Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #9 on: July 12, 2022, 02:40:13 pm »
Quote from: hangook77 on January 18, 2022, 08:34:55 am
All these guys named Norman came over from France to reclaim some supposed title back in 1066 yonder.

Grammatically, Norweigan and Dutch are suppose to be some of the easiest languages to pick up for an English speaker.  French as a Romance language is different from ours but due to the number of loan words can be understood.  (These languages can be picked up when reading it more than speaking though you may hear or recognize some words.)
Even easier than those might be the varieties of Frisian; old English and old Frisian were essentially dialects of each other.
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  • Kyndo
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #10 on: July 12, 2022, 02:51:28 pm »
Quote from: slycordinator on July 12, 2022, 02:40:13 pm
Even easier than those might be the varieties of Frisian; old English and old Frisian were essentially dialects of each other.
My cousin speaks Frisian fairly well, and it's a trip and a half. It's definitely a fair bit harder to parse than Afrikaans.
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #11 on: July 12, 2022, 03:10:22 pm »
Quote from: Kyndo on July 12, 2022, 02:51:28 pm
My cousin speaks Frisian fairly well, and it's a trip and a half. It's definitely a fair bit harder to parse than Afrikaans.
Could depend on the variety; I've heard that the different Frisian languages are no longer mutually intelligible. Also, English has gone through a lot of grammar simplifications over the centuries that didn't happen in Frisian or German, whereas Dutch and Afrikaans seem to have gone through similar.
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Re: 41% of the English language is French. How did this happen?
« Reply #12 on: July 12, 2022, 03:22:37 pm »
What does it matter when 41% of letters in French aren't even pronounced?
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