Linguistic purism in English?

[Wolf]

I've noticed that there has not been any successful attempt of linguistic purism in English. It seems strange to me that the majority of the English vocabulary (over 50% !) is derived from Latin and French/Norman French, but English is still considered a West Germanic language.

Furthermore, a lot of words could be replaced with words of Anglo-Saxon or Germanic origin. Here you can see how this would look like: http://anglish.wikia.com/wiki/Headside

So, why did nothing happen?

[Geminus]

As England was conquered by the Normans the nobility spoke Norman French. That's the main reason for many words being of Romance origin.
They of course didn't have any reason to strive for a pure Anglo Saxon language. English was created as a mixture of Anglo Saxon with Norman French or at least of Anglo Saxon with considerable Norman French input.
Still today often the words of Romance origin are seen as more sophisticated or as "higher" language, probably because it's origin is from the ruling class. Until today there didn't seem to be any revival of the old Anglo Saxon "style" so nothing has been changed.

[MelinusMargos]

As England was conquered by the Normans the nobility spoke Norman French. That's the main reason for many words being of Romance origin.
They of course didn't have any reason to strive for a pure Anglo Saxon language. English was created as a mixture of Anglo Saxon with Norman French or at least of Anglo Saxon with considerable Norman French input.
Still today often the words of Romance origin are seen as more sophisticated or as "higher" language, probably because it's origin is from the ruling class. Until today there didn't seem to be any revival of the old Anglo Saxon "style" so nothing has been changed.

Could the french influence have been due in part to the strong contact between England and France during the 100years war too?

[Anglojew]

Anglo-Saxon emanates from the people while romance emanates from the elite because Norman was the language of government and the judiciary.

[Wolf]

As England was conquered by the Normans the nobility spoke Norman French. That's the main reason for many words being of Romance origin.

That's the main reason, but the question remains why there has not been any successful attempt of linguistic purism in English.

Could the french influence have been due in part to the strong contact between England and France during the 100years war too?

Possible, but the Norman influence is more plausible.

It seems even more strange, because it would be comprehensible, if the long English-French rivalry had become noticeable in terms of lingusitc purism.

[Empecinado]

I've talked with some students from the USA and they told me that there is a kind of phobia about use Latinisms and is considered
priggish any Latin root word exceeding 3 syllables, I've heard too that use Latin words denotes refinement (for example saying liquify instead melt, surrender instead give in, reprimand instead call off, abandon instead give up...).

The Matrix Architect speech is full of Latinisms:

[Anglojew]

That's the main reason, but the question remains why there has not been any successful attempt of linguistic purism in English.

Possible, but the Norman influence is more plausible.

It seems even more strange, because it would be comprehensible, if the long English-French rivalry had become noticeable in terms of lingusitc purism.

Two main reasons;

1. It gives English speakers at least two ways to say everything and Norman sounds "more posh"

2. Since the elites make the teaching curriculum then romance keeps its place as the more "educated" of the two.

[Wolf]

Two main reasons;

1. It gives English speakers at least two ways to say everything and Norman sounds "more posh"

2. Since the elites make the teaching curriculum then romance keeps its place as the more "educated" of the two.

So, snobbery prevails over purism?

[Anglojew]

So, snobbery prevails over purism?

Somewhat, but I think the contention is wrong because Normans are as much "English" as anyone else having been in England for 1000 years now.

Also, English is about 20% Latin and Greek (scholarly languages).

[HillY35]

As England was conquered by the Normans the nobility spoke Norman French. That's the main reason for many words being of Romance origin.
They of course didn't have any reason to strive for a pure Anglo Saxon language. English was created as a mixture of Anglo Saxon with Norman French or at least of Anglo Saxon with considerable Norman French input.
Still today often the words of Romance origin are seen as more sophisticated or as "higher" language, probably because it's origin is from the ruling class. Until today there didn't seem to be any revival of the old Anglo Saxon "style" so nothing has been changed.

Yeah, centralism has never really been a big part of the Anglo-Saxon tradition, except when absolutely necessary.

I've talked with some students from the USA and they told me that there is a kind of phobia about use Latinisms and is considered
priggish any Latin root word exceeding 3 syllables, I've heard too that use Latin words denotes refinement (for example saying liquify instead melt, surrender instead give in, reprimand instead call off, abandon instead give up...).

The Matrix Architect speech is full of Latinisms:

I was in college for 5 years studying English as a major, and I can say I don't know what the heck you're talking about in terms of a phobia of certain speak-ways. Now, classes of people speak differently, sure... But I don't know how much of that is a result of a "phobia."