Norman French and Latin
Latin is also used to a limited degree in certain official mottos, legal terminology (habeas corpus), and various ceremonial contexts. Latin abbreviations can also be seen on British coins. The use of Latin has declined greatly in recent years. At one time, Latin and Greek were commonly taught in British schools ), and A-Levels are still available in both subjects.
In rare cases, Norman French and Latin have contributed to Welsh toponymy e.g. Beaumaris (Biwmaris), Grace Dieu and Strata Florida & Valle Crucis. The Welsh language prefix Caer- is a corruption of the Latin castra (often rendered as Chester/Caster in England). Both of the placename elements in Caerleon come ultimately from Latin. Latin has had a significant influence on Welsh in words such as ffenester and pont meaning window and bridge respectively.
Notable Welsh writers in Latin include Geoffrey of Monmouth, who wrote Historia Regum Britanniae, Adam of Usk author of Chronicon Adæ de Usk and notable texts include Annales Cambriae
Read more about this topic: Languages Of Wales
Famous quotes containing the words norman, french and/or latin:
“Do you know who’s sneaked into my stateroom at three o’clock this morning? Nobody, and that’s my complaint!”
—S.J. Perelman, U.S. screenwriter, Arthur Sheekman, Will Johnstone, and Norman Z. McLeod. Groucho Marx, Monkey Business, a complaint shipboard stowaway Groucho makes to the ship’s captain (Ben Taggart)
“Then a sentimental passion of a vegetable fashion must excite your
languid spleen,
An attachment a la Plato for a bashful young potato, or a
not-too-French French bean!”
—Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)
“Is there no Latin word for Tea? Upon my soul, if I had known that I would have let the vulgar stuff alone.”
—Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953)