Today in History: On Oct. 14, 1066

[CharlesHarris]

Normans under William the Conqueror defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings.

(This is how the English language received such an infusion of French words. Among them is the use of what were originally French words for meat on the table – such as pork – while animals in the field retained the Anglo-Saxon names – pig or swine.)

[harrypalmer]

English was formed from many languages, for instance many English words common in northern England come directly from the Vikings. Words more common in the USA like Julip and candy are Arabic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_En...igin_(A-B)

Surprising how many words are Arabic in origin...well worth looking through the above link.

[Mortblanc]

What is really amazing is how few words in our language are derived from the native language before all the invasions, Celtic, Roman, Angle/Saxon/Jute, Viking, Norman.

[harrypalmer]

"What is really amazing is how few words in our language are derived from the native language before all the invasions" but they are MB, they are. The UK has in effect been 'multi cultural' for many centuries and this is shown in how the English language evolved and continues to change