Which language was not spoken concurrently in Anglo-Norman England?
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Answer: B. Dutch
Explanation
Dutch was not part of the multilingual environment spoken in medieval Anglo-Norman England. Latin, French, and Celtic languages coexisted actively among various social groups and regions. Historical trade links with the Low Countries did not translate into a concurrent spoken language. The Norman Conquest of ten sixty-six introduced French as the language of the ruling elite. Latin remained the primary international language of the church, administration, and scholarship. Celtic languages like Welsh, Cornish, and Irish were spoken in the borderlands and peripheries.
This complex linguistic situation contributed to the eventual evolution of Middle English. Legal and administrative documents from the period reflect the dominance of Latin and French. Historians study these linguistic dynamics to understand medieval social stratification. Latin was widely spoken and written by clergy, scholars, and royal administrators. French was spoken by the nobility and ruling classes following the Norman Conquest. Celtic languages were spoken by indigenous populations in the western and northern regions.
- Subject
- English
- Category
- English Literature
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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