Norman invasion and the English language

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Old English was a highly influenced by the West Germanic languages, such as Old Norse.It was mostly war and agriculture orientated and writers such as Beowulf used narrative poems to relate the epic adventures of which theheroes were usually the embodiment of core values and traditions of his culture.  

The introduction of new words and a simplification of the grammar had already started to take place. This was more marked in those areas in the North, Midlands and East Anglia where the Danes and Norwegians settled in large numbers.  

The language had four major dialects: Northumbrian, Mercian, West Saxon, and Kentish. As the kings of Wessex (West Saxons) gradually emerged as kings of all England, West Saxon dominated the written form of the language. As such, it gradually became less reflective of the spoken language, especially in the Danelaw.

This is because it remained with the nobility; therefore

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