A History of English Language

The reestablishment of english, 1200-1500 129
but with the rapid rise of the Capetian power in the thirteenth century the linguistic
supremacy of Paris followed upon its political ascendancy. The French introduced into
England was possibly a mixture of various northern dialectal features, but with Norman
predominating, and under the influence of English linguistic tendencies, it gradually
developed into something quite different from any of the continental dialects. The
difference was noticed quite early, 52 and before long the French of England drew a smile
from continental speakers. It was the subject of humorous treatment in literature, 53 and
English writers became apologetic. One poet says, “A false French of England I know,
for I have not been elsewhere to acquire it; but you who have learned it elsewhere, amend
it where there is need.” 54 The more ambitious sent their children to France to have the
“barbarity” taken off their speech. 55 But the situation did not mend. Everybody is familiar
with the gentle fun that Chaucer makes of the Prioress:
And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly,
After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe,
For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe.
One might well feel some hesitancy about speaking a language of which one had to be
slightly ashamed.
102. The Hundred Years’ War.
In the course of the centuries following the Norman Conquest the connection of England
with the continent, as we have seen, had been broken. It was succeeded by a conflict of
interests and a growing feeling of antagonism that culminated in a long period of open
hostility with France (1337–1453). The causes of this struggle are too complex to be
entered into here, but the active interference of France in England’s efforts to control
Scotland led Edward III finally to put forth a claim to the French throne and to invade
France. The great victories of the English at Crécy (1346) and Poitiers (1356) fanned
English patriotism to a white heat, though this auspicious beginning of the struggle was
followed by a depressing period of reverses and though the contest was interrupted by
long periods of truce. In the reign of Henry V England again enjoyed a brief period of
success, notably in the victory against great odds at Agincourt (1415). But the success did
not
52
Walter Map says that “if one is faulty in his use of this tongue, we say that he speaketh French of
Marlborough.” De Nugis Curialium, V, vi (trans. Tupper and Ogle).
53
H.Albert, Mittelalterlicher Englisch-französischer Jargon (Halle, Germany, 1922).
54
A life of Edward the Confessor in Anglo-French verse of the latter part of the thirteenth century;
cf. A.T.Baker in Mod. Lang. Rev., 3 (1907–1908), 374–75. William of Wadington makes a similar
excuse: “No one ought to blame me for the French or the verse, for I was born in England and
nourished and brought up there.” So too does Gower (Vising, Franska Språket i England, III, 9).
55
Gervase of Tilbury, Otia Imperialia (1212), chap. 20, ed. G.G.Leibnitz, Scriptores Rerum
Brunsvicensium (Hanover, Germany, 1707), I, 945.