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How might have the English language been different had king Harold's forces won the Battle of Hastings?

Asked by Caravanfan (13534points) January 26th, 2019

As most people know, in 1066 the French Normans, led by William, Duke of Normandy, defeated the Anglo-Saxon army led by Harold at the Battle of Hastings. The Normans subsequent conquest of England was to change the language. Ultimately Old English (mostly Germanic—language of Beowulf) changed to Middle English (language of Canterbury Tales). The language slowly evolved to the Early Modern English of Shakespeare, which everybody can understand.

So my question is how do you think the language would have evolved had the Norman invasion failed? Would we be typing in a version of German mixed with Danish influence?

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