that remains from the beginnings of the English language, we can only surmise about how words were used and in what contexts. Therefore, it is difficult to see where there are shifts in denotation or connotation because records may not exist which demonstrate the full use of certain words. However, despite the parcity of surviving texts, researchers have been able to note several cases of semantic shifts between Old English and Middle English that were influenced by French. For example, the OE word freo originally had two meanings, free and noble. However, when the French word noble entered the English language, the existing freo lost that meaning. Similarly, OE’s smierwan had the meanings of smear and anoint, but when the French anoint entered the language, smierwan lost it’s positive connotation. Many speakers of Present-Day English notice that English has different words for animals when they are alive and when they are served as food. This distinction has its roots in Middle English. In OE, an animal had the same name whether it was in the barnyard or on the table. However, when the Normans moved in as English aristocracy, they had different terms for their meat dishes. The English servants needed to learn the French terms for these dishes, and these terms have survived into PDE. Several animal/meat distinctions are due to the French: Old English Old French Present-Day English sheep mouton mutton cow boeuf beef swine porc pork calf veal veal fowl poulet poultry flitch bacon bacon Conclusion Clearly, when the Normans invaded the Saxon shore in 1066 they influenced much more than the existing language. Almost every aspect of English life was changed when the French took over their rule. However, one may argue that the longest-lasting impact of the Norman Invasion was that on the English language. Although The English spoken during the Middle English period may hardly resemble, to the lay person, the language spoken today, ...
