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Dermot asked in Society & CultureLanguages · 1 decade ago

Is the English language closer to French or German?

I think French, think about our everyday words and the influence of the Normans. I know English counts as Germanic, but I that think the French influence is underestimated.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    German-English and German are both High Germanic languages. Our high-frequency words are predominantly Germanic, and we have a heavily Germanic grammar. While technically, most words in the dictionary will be Romance derived, these are frequently prone to be obscure words that do not pop up in everyday conversation.

    The French in our language is highly superficial-largely Franco contribution to our lexicon, particularly in the names of clerical, governmental, religious, or cooking words. I would actually say that the French influence is overexaggerated.

    Peace

    Source(s): Lingusitics grad student, took a class on the history of english, and another on the development of the Proto-Indo European langauge family.
  • 5 years ago

    Definitely German. French and English are mainly hooked up in Canada on the grounds that of Quebec and whatnot however I rather dont consider they are that identical in any respect-certain there are political phrases which have been derived from French however rather than that cognates arent patricularly considerable among the 2. I've been studying German for approximately four years now and lots of many matters which are mentioned in English will also be mentioned within the identical phrase order in German while French is 'backwards'. There are way more congates in German. Some examples off the highest of my head are Ich(I), Komfortable, Katze(cat), Practisch(functional), Adresse, buch(guide), Autor(creator), Apfel(apple), Arm, and trinken that is 'to drink'. Mutter and Vater (dad and mom), bruder(brother) and schwester(sister) are a pair extra. They're in every single place, rather. And they span throughout all topics from meals to loved ones to amusement and extra. I have just a restrained quantity of expertise of French however throughout the temporary interval that I did research it, I discovered it complex to choose up- German used to be convenient in assessment. It is just a little of a less complicated language, granted, however I consider the similarities among it and English have been what made it handy to be trained.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Definitely German. French and English are often connected in Canada because of Quebec and whatnot but I really dont think they're that similar at all-sure there are political terms that have been derived from French but other than that cognates arent patricularly abundant between the two.

    I've been learning German for about 4 years now and many many things that are said in English can be said in the same word order in German whereas French is 'backwards'. There are far more congates in German. Some examples off the top of my head are Ich(I), Komfortable, Katze(cat), Practisch(practical), Adresse, buch(book), Autor(author), Apfel(apple), Arm, and trinken which is 'to drink'. Mutter and Vater (mother and father), bruder(brother) and schwester(sister) are a couple more. They're everywhere, really. And they span across all subjects from food to family to entertainment and more.

    I have only a limited amount of knowledge of French but during the brief period that I did study it, I found it difficult to pick up- German was effortless in comparison. It is a bit of a simpler language, granted, but I think the similarities between it and English were what made it easy to learn.

  • 1 decade ago

    in my experience it's much closer to german.

    i had to guide myself through a german airport and i could see the similarities in the words more than i have trying to learn french!

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