3.2.The French Influence on English Phrasing .
Aside from borrowing and word formation,French considerably influenced Eng phrasing. While A. Prins dates the peak of this influence to late ME,Nevalainen points out that it continues to be felt in EModE. The loan translations range from polite turns of speech,such as at your service,do me the favour,to engage somebody in a quarrel, to make (later: pay) a visit, to idiomatic phrases like by occasion, in detail, in favour of, in the last resort, in particular, to the contrary.
Though the number of French loans in the EModE period is relatively minor in comparison to M.E, the contribution is most important.The EModE French loans
were primarily borrowed to provide richness to the language.Whilst it was arguable during the Restoration whether the loans were corrupting or enriching the language, today there is no doubt or disputable grounds to argue that the loans did anything but enrich the English language
CONCLUSION.
Since the Norman Conquest in 1066 the French language became more and more important. The Normans (North-man) were descendants of the Danes and spoke French influenced by a Germanic dialect. They inhabited some parts in the north of France and adapted not only to the language, but also to the French culture. They had a talent for building churches, cathedrals, castles and proved the English their rank of military quality.
Yet, that does not mean the English culture was inferior to the French one. The Anglo- Saxons were excellent writers, artists and craftsmen. They did not lack in civilization. “French became the language of the upper classes in England simply because it was the language of the conquerors, not because of any cultural superiority on their part.”By this time, the French and English language existed side by side and French took over to be the language of the court and “royaltyof England throughout the twelfth,thirteenth and (diminishingly) fourteenth centuries.”The kings of England spoke French, took French wives and lived mostly in France. The Normans became the new upper class. They dominated all high positions like the church, education, aristocracy, administration etc.. So, many other people, particularly among the gentry whose native language was English had to acquire French, if they “wanted to get on in the world.”
References
Alexander, Henry. The Story of Our Language. New York: Dolphin Books Edition, 1962.
Barber, Charles. Early Modern English. London: Andre Deutsch Ltd., 1976.
Baugh, Albert, and Thomas Cable. A History of the English Language 4th edition. London: Routledge, 1993.
Blake, N. F. A History of the English Language. London: Macmillan Press Ltd., 1996.
Coleman, Julie. “The Chronology of French and Latin Loan Words in English”. The Philological Society Vol. 93:2 (1995): 95-124.
Jespersen, Otto. Growth and Structure of the English Language. Toronto: Collier-Macmillan, Ltd., 1968.