Is English a Romance language? Most people have the question in their minds. We heard the English language is a Germanic language.
Then, what does it has to do with the Romance dialects? Continue reading to discover more about Romance languages. You’ll get clarity about whether it relates to Romance languages or not.
The Romance Languages
These dialects are sometimes known as Neo-Latin or Latin languages. These are a group of modern languages. These descended from Vulgar Latin between the third and eighth centuries.
They are an Indo-European linguistic family subset of the Italic tongues. The most commonly used Romance languages by native speakers are:
– French (77 million)
– Spanish (489 million)
– Romanian (24 million)
– Italian (67 million)
– Portuguese (283 million)
Italian, Sardinian, and Spanish are the least dissimilar from Latin. This estimation is among all Romance languages. It includes national and regional languages. Also, it has Occitan, which is closer to Latin than French.
The French language was significantly affected by Germanic languages. It is the most diverse from Latin.
On the other hand, the Romance language is closer to the other than they are to each other.
Many people believe that the romantic implications of Romance languages are also linked. After all, Spanish, French and Italian rank near the summit. These are in the rankings of the prettiest dialects.
However, we regret to inform you that Romance languages have nothing to do with love.
Where Do The Romance Languages Come From?
The word “Romance” refers to these languages’ ancient beginnings in the Roman Empire.
Romanice initially supposed to be ‘in Roman,’ which evolved into Romance. As a result, any language with Latin words is still referred to as a Romance language. It is with a capital R.
What Happened To The Romance Languages As They Spread Over Europe?
During the Roman Empire, the Romans spoke Vulgar Latin. It is a colloquial variant of written Latin. No, vulgar has nothing to do with sailor swearing.
It simply refers to the language spoken by regular people. As the power increased and acquired new lands across Europe, so did the languages.
This spoken Latin blended with the local tongue, resulting in accents varied by town. The more it spread from Rome, the more changes it underwent.
Many of these regional dialects have subsequently faded out. Its various regional accents are still spoken alongside the standard variety. These were also taught in schools throughout Europe.
These dialects altered even more after the system collapsed apart. Thus eventually, it became a recognized language.
Later, colonialism and imperial power brought these languages further out. These were also brought out to South America, Asia, and Africa. These are where they changed into regional dialects once more.
History Of Romance Language:
Roman legions also speak vulgar Latin. It is the famous and colloquial sociolect of Latin. The following are among the continuity of Romance languages:
– The colonists, and traders, as opposed to the ancient form of the language. The Roman upper middle classes also use it.
– The version in which the language was commonly in use. The Empire’s growth made Latin the dominant native language. It combined with its management and administrative systems.
– It is in continental Western Europe between 350 BC and 150 AD.
– Latin also influenced Western Germany and the Roman province of Africa.
The Vulgar Latin Origin:
Most of the features also shared by all Romance languages. These distinguish them from Classical Latin, such as:
– The almost complete loss of the Latin grammatical case system.
– Its replacement by prepositions.
– The loss of the neuter grammatical gender and comparative inflections.
– The verbs’ replacement believed to have already existed in Vulgar Latin.
The Form Of Vulgar Latin:
The form of Vulgar Latin was spoken along the documented Classical Latin. This is the form that evolved into the Romance languages.
That was also designated for official and ceremonial events under the Roman Empire. Others believe that the disparities should be seen as indicators of sociolinguistics.
Also, the register differences exist in any language. Both were mutually comprehensible as though they were one. Also, it is the same language until the 2nd half part of the seventh century.
However, Latin fell extinct within two centuries because:
“The Romanized peoples of Europe could no longer understand texts. Those texts also read aloud or spoken to them.”
Vulgar Latin extended across Italy, southern, western, and central Europe. It also spread to northern Africa and parts of west Asia. It is with both the advent of the Roman Empire.
English And The Romance Languages
The English language is a Germanic language we’ve all did hear. Because English is different from German, most persons often get perplexed.
You place a paper of French in front of an English speaking person who has never acquired a second language. They are more likely to recognize the words on the French paper than on the German paper.
Many people seem to assume that English is a language belongs to Romance family as a result of this.
Romance languages have heavily influenced the English lexicon. It has been over the years. This language appears to be nearer to Romance dialects than the Germanic dialects. In 2016,the English language had:
– 26 % Germanic lexicon,
– A 29 percent French lexicon.
– 29 percent Latin vocabulary.
– 6 percent Greek vocabulary.
– A 10 percent vocabulary made up of other languages.
Together, French and Latin constitue 58 percent of today’s English lexicon. These are both Romance languages.
How Did Romance Vocabulary Make Its Way Into English?
So, how did so much Romance vocabulary make its way into English? The historic Old English lexicon also altered.
It was just when the Norman Conquest occured in 1066. That brought the French language in England.
“Cow” is from the ancient English “c.” On the other hand, “beef” is from the French word “boeuf.” Latin acquired the English lexicon in a same fashion through:
– The connection with the Roman Empire. It is by Germany.
– The Renaissance Period.
– Catholic missionaries.
– The great awakening of the seventieth and eighteenth centuries.
Now it is about , English is a Germanic language. It heavily affected over time by Romance languages. Some even believe in the Middle English Creole Theory, which claims that:
“English was also simplified between Old and Middle English.”
Whatever occurred, English is a remarkable language. It has adapted and also has influence by the world surrounding it. It allows it to continue to be in use to this day.
The Idea Of English As A Romance Language
The bulk of citizens is likely to obtain the idea from a high school. The French/Spanish instructor emphasizes the languages’ shared similarities.
The Norman invasion and Norman reign in England are responsible for these homophones. There was a Romance language in England. It is before the incursions of the Angles and Saxons.
After the fall of the empire, this civilization went away. Then the Germanic languages took their place.
Conclusion:
English isn’t a Romance language, to begin with. We inherited a lot of terminology from Romance languages. That makes English appear to be more Romance-like on the surface.
A significant number of English vocabulary comes from Romance languages. It is from Norman French, Italian, and Latin.
But the structure of the language remains Germanic. That is why it is still officially a Germanic language. But it has a considerable Romance impact.
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