Old Norman

Old Norman is a variant of the Old French language that was spoken in the Normandy region of France from the 9th to the 14th centuries. It is a Romance language that evolved from Latin and was influenced by Celtic languages and Old Norse, the language of the Vikings who settled in Normandy in the 9th and 10th centuries.

History

Old Norman developed in the 9th century when the region of Normandy was granted to the Viking leader Rollo by the French king Charles the Simple. The Vikings, or Norsemen, brought their own language, Old Norse, which influenced the local Romance language. This resulted in a unique linguistic blend that became Old Norman.

Characteristics

Old Norman was characterized by a number of distinctive features. It retained some elements of Old Norse, such as the use of the definite article at the end of the noun, a feature that is still present in modern Norman. It also showed influences from Celtic languages, particularly in vocabulary related to the sea and sailing.

Legacy

Old Norman had a significant impact on the development of the English language. After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Old Norman became the language of the English court and aristocracy. This led to the introduction of a large number of Norman words into English, particularly in the areas of law, government, and culture.

See also

• Anglo-Norman language
• Old French
• Norman language
• Norman Conquest