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Sunday, March 16, 2014

Was French Ever the Official Language of England?

French was the official language of England from 1066 until 1362.

French was the official language of England after the Norman Conquest of
1066 by William the Conqueror of France until 1362, when it was replaced by
English. From 1066 to 1362, French was mainly used by nobility, and English
was generally spoken by the lower classes. Latin was the main language for
official documentation. Historians point to King John’s loss of Normandy,
a region in France, in 1294 to the King of France as a main factor why
England moved away from the French language. French also started to be
viewed negatively because of the Hundred Year War against France, which
began in 1337. By 1362, The Statute of Pleading had named English the
official language of the courts.
Read More: http://www.wisegeek.com/was-french-ever-the-official-language-of-england.htm?m

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