Gallicisms in Legal English

The article discusses the research of French terms in Legal English. English has been influenced by French since the Norman Conquest in 1066. Although the Normans were fewer, they removed locals from governmental positions and introduced Old French as a language of the ruling class in England. Courts started to use so-called Law French in their pleadings and hearings – many terms of it are still in use in common law jurisdictions. Law French introduced a huge number of words into English – fee simple, voir dire, fine, warranty, replevin, - just to name a few. It also influenced grammar (word order – fee simple determinable, fee simple defeasible, where an adjective comes after a noun), word building (suffix -ee, e.g. bailee, employee, trustee, etc). English borrowed many words though transforming them according to the English rules – interpleader and joinder have turned into interplead and join. Nowadays we can talk about the reverse process, so-called Franglais, when English words are borrowed by French – neologisms from digital world – googliser, flashmob.