[HPforGrownups] Genes - Envy - Hermione's Birthday - Rant on Language

[Rowena Grunnion-Ffitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 26829



--- "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)" 

> Your explanation that the simplification of English
> came from a cross 
> between Saxons and Danes is new to me; I am more
> accustomed to the
> explanation that 'English is the result of Norman
> men at arms trying 
> to date Saxon barmaids, and no more legitimate than
> the other 
> results." I THINK the quote is from L. Sprague
> deCamp but I can't 
> remember.

   Sound like deCamp to me. *That's* where the strong
French influence in modern English vocabulary came
from. The original simplification of grammer came from
Danes trying to communicate with Saxon wives,
according to 'The Story of English' anyway. Basically
we're saying the same thing - modern English is due to
men of Viking descent trying to pick up girls, (as are
a great many English people but that's another issue).
 
> My friend Lee (ABD in Eng Lit)

   What's an ABD?

 told that the reason that English 
> became simple and easy is because it was the
> language only of 
> conquered peasants and therefore not taught in
> school like Latin (and 
> presumably Norman French) and was therefore free to
change 

   I suspect there is something to this too. I
understand the French actually have a government
department whose mission is to fight tooth and nail
against *any* change in their language. I very much
hope I am mistaken.


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone.
http://phone.yahoo.com