Legal Definitions - Norman French

Norman French refers to the dialect of Old French spoken by the Normans, who conquered England in 1066. Following the Norman Conquest, this language became the official language of the English courts and legal system, profoundly influencing the development of English common law.

While English remained the language of the common people, Norman French was used for official legal proceedings, statutes, and records for several centuries. Over time, it evolved into what is known as Law French, a specialized legal jargon that continued to be used in courts until the late 17th century. English eventually replaced it as the official language of the courts in 1731, but many legal terms of Norman French origin remain in use today.

Here are some examples illustrating the application of Norman French in legal contexts:

• Court Records and Pleadings: Imagine a land dispute in 13th-century England between two noble families. The formal documents submitted to the King's court, such as the initial complaint (known as a "bill" or "writ") outlining the grievance and the subsequent responses, would have been meticulously drafted in Norman French. The court clerks would record the proceedings, judgments, and official decrees in this language, ensuring legal precision and adherence to established practice.

  This example demonstrates how Norman French was the mandatory language for official legal documentation and formal communication within the English court system for centuries after the Conquest.

• Early English Statutes and Legislation: When significant laws were enacted by the English monarchy and Parliament in the centuries following the Conquest, their authoritative texts were often written in Norman French. For instance, many of the foundational statutes passed by King Edward I in the late 13th century, which reformed various aspects of English law, were originally promulgated in Norman French. These texts served as the primary legal references for judges, lawyers, and administrators throughout the realm.

  This illustrates Norman French's role as the language of legislative authority, used to codify and disseminate the laws that governed the kingdom, making them accessible to the legal professionals of the era.

• Legal Terminology and Education: Even after English began to gain prominence, the specialized vocabulary of the law remained heavily influenced by Norman French. A legal apprentice in 16th-century London, for example, would spend years studying legal treatises and case reports, many of which were written in Law French (the evolved form of Norman French). They would learn core legal concepts and phrases, such as "voir dire" (to speak the truth, referring to jury selection) or "estoppel" (a legal principle preventing someone from asserting a fact inconsistent with a previous position), which are direct linguistic descendants of this historical court language.

  This highlights how Norman French, even in its later "Law French" iteration, profoundly shaped the vocabulary and conceptual framework of English common law, influencing legal education and practice for centuries and leaving an indelible mark on modern legal terminology.