Norman French
Norman French (noun) 1. A historical dialect of Old French: This term refers specifically to the variety of the Old French language spoken by the Normans, the people of Normandy who conquered England in 1066. It is the medieval dialect that developed from the Gallo-Romance languages in the region of Normandy. 2. The language of the Anglo-Norman court and administration: Following the Norman Conquest, Norman French became the language of the ruling class, the royal court, law, and government in England for several centuries, significantly influencing the development of the English language.
- Noun:
- The Domesday Book was compiled using administrative Latin, but its commissioners were native speakers of Norman French.
- Many legal terms in English, such as "court," "judge," and "jury," were borrowed from Norman French.
- Chaucer noted the distinction between the Norman French of the aristocracy and the English of the common people.
- "Anglo-Norman": Often used synonymously with "Norman French" when referring specifically to the dialect as it was used and developed in England after the Conquest. It is the immediate source of most French-derived vocabulary in English.
- The Anglo-Norman language was the vehicle for much medieval literature in England.
- Old French (noun): The broader Gallo-Romance language spoken in parts of what is now France and Belgium from roughly the 9th to the 14th century, of which Norman French is a dialect.
- Anglo-Norman (noun/adjective): Pertaining to or the variety of Norman French used in medieval England.
- Law French (noun): The later, specialized form of Anglo-Norman French used in English courts until the 17th century.
- Anglo-Norman: (when referring to its use in England)
- The French of the Conquerors: (a descriptive synonym)
It is critical to distinguish Norman French from modern French. It was a distinct medieval dialect. Its primary historical significance lies in its role as a superstrate language in England, where it contributed thousands of words to English, particularly in the domains of government, law, art, literature, and cuisine. It coexisted with Latin (for church and scholarship) and Middle English (for the general populace).
- the medieval Norman dialect of Old French