The correct answer is 4. French because:
Historical Context: After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, William the Conqueror and the Norman rulers established French as the language of the English court, administration, and aristocracy.
Upper-Class Influence: The Normans were originally from Normandy in France, and their native language was Old Norman French. As they took control of England, French became the language of the elite, while the common people continued to speak Old English.
Latin vs. French: While Latin was used for church and scholarly purposes, it was not the spoken language of the aristocracy. Latin was primarily for written records, religious texts, and official documents.
Norse & Danish Influence: Norse and Danish languages had some influence due to Viking invasions before the Norman conquest, but they did not become the dominant language of the upper classes. Instead, their impact remained limited to certain regions and contributed to the evolution of English.
Thus, the correct answer is French because it was the fashionable language spoken in upper-class circles during the reign of the Norman kings.
Year-wise PYQs
