Question

Why is it disputed that Middle English was a creole, created by language contact with the French?

Accepted Answer

In this case, it is suggested that English was the subordinate language in this language contact, and French the superordinate. However, the French spoken in England was the one which had suffered, becoming unfamiliar from Parisian French.Many features of OE, including use of the genitive and tense distinctions, were actually expanded during this period.However, some phonological features, such as the introduction of voiced fricatives and diphthongs, came from French.

Language English French Disputed Middle Creole Created Contact