Renaissance of Linguistics

Old French Old French refers to the period when the different regional dialects of the language developed into a comparatively more standardised form, with separate grammar. The oldest written material of this time period dates back to the year 842 AD.   Middle French This period of the French language dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. Middle French refers to a time when significant changes in the spoken and written versions of the language were seen. Another significant development in favour of the French language at this time was the fact that texts of the public administration were being written in French, instead of Latin.   Early and Classical Modern French Even though French had already started replacing Latin in public institutions, there was still a long way to go for the language’s evolution. Poets and authors of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries took it upon themselves to promote and encourage the proliferation of the language with their texts. The primary aim was to help French reach the level or status that Latin held.   Towards the end of this period, there were also significant changes in the grammatical rules of the language – conventions that set the tone for the form of French that we know today. This was also the time period during which the language spread to countries like the United States and Canada.   Modern French This period of the French language started in the 19th century. Pronunciation of the French language was standardised in this period and French started becoming the official language of several African states, due to French colonisation. While slight changes are understandable, there haven’t been any significant changes to the language since the end of the 18th century.