ABSTRACT
A comparison of the Old Norse (ON) and French elements in Middle English (ME) is instructive and helps the student to realize the part played by each in the history of the language. The influence of ON is seen chiefly on vocabulary, and on that it was very considerable. The first great influx of French words into the vocabulary was, however, the result of the Norman Conquest, and these penetrated deep into the language. The Low German element in the ME vocabulary has not till recently received much attention. In ME times the intercourse between England and the Low Countries was of various kinds. It must be remembered that the queen of William the Conqueror was Matilda of Flanders and Edward the Third's queen was Philippa of Hainault. The Low German element in the ME vocabulary has not till recently received much attention. The bulk of Low German borrowings belong to modern English.
