1066 and the English Language

The year 1066 will forever stick in my mind because of Ms. Jill Aufill, my senior year English teacher in high school. It was on this day in 1066 when William the Conqueror of Normandy arrived on British soil, thus changing the English language forever.

My first reaction to Ms. Aufill's lesson plan was -- really? You want us to learn about Old English (not the alcohol), Middle English, Early Modern English? AND our modern English language?

But then my love of words expanded to include linguistics as she told us stories of how English has twisted and turned over the years, incorporating (sometimes cannibalizing) other languages and transforming itself what we speak today.

Here are some of the deliciously descriptive words that wouldn't even exist in English if not for 1066:
pleasure
flower
amorous
relinquish
rage
vocation
anniversary
elegant
imbibe
voyage
sacred

For more comparisons of Germanic vs. Latinate (via French) words (and a generally tasty feast of the wide range of synonyms we can use in English), check this Wikipedia chart.

So thank you, Ms. Aufill, for helping me understand the wild history that gives me such a rich cornucopia of words to choose from, as a writer and lover of language.

Comments

[Tammy]

Thanks Ms. Aufill for sharing with Jennifer so that she could share with us! I had no idea and I love many of those words too.