Expertlatin
- How did Latin turn into French?
- What influenced the French language in the past?
- Why are there so many words derived from Old French in modern English?
- When was the modern French language created?
How did Latin turn into French?
How did Latin become French? The answer is simple: it was the Romans who brought their language to France. The Roman Empire conquered Gaul in 52 BC and, by the end of the 4th century AD, had spread its influence throughout most of Europe.
What influenced the French language in the past?
It descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire, as did all Romance languages. French evolved from Gallo-Romance, the Latin spoken in Gaul, and more specifically in Northern Gaul.
Why are there so many words derived from Old French in modern English?
Beginning in 1066 A.D., French speakers occupied England. It was the Normans in particular and the dialect they spoke was a different dialect of French. Normans were, in fact, descendants of the Vikings, too. They brought many French words into English, and these words are considered common English words today.
When was the modern French language created?
By the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts in 1539 King Francis I made French the official language of administration and court proceedings in France, which ousted Latin, which had been used earlier.
