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Questions and Answers
What was the primary language of legal texts in Anglo-Saxon England?
What was the primary language of legal texts in Anglo-Saxon England?
- Old English (correct)
- Norse
- Norman French
- Latin
Which of the following terms reflects the influence of the Church's language on Anglo-Saxon legal terminology?
Which of the following terms reflects the influence of the Church's language on Anglo-Saxon legal terminology?
- lagu
- sheriff
- writ
- clerk (correct)
What significant change did the Norman Conquest bring to English legal language?
What significant change did the Norman Conquest bring to English legal language?
- The exclusive use of Old English in all courts.
- The immediate adoption of Norse as a legal language.
- The introduction of Norman French in the courts and nobility. (correct)
- The complete removal of Latin from legal proceedings.
Which language was primarily used for recording judgments in plea rolls after the Norman Conquest?
Which language was primarily used for recording judgments in plea rolls after the Norman Conquest?
What type of document were the Latin writs called 'brevia' in the context of English common law?
What type of document were the Latin writs called 'brevia' in the context of English common law?
What was the primary purpose of the Year Books in the context of English law?
What was the primary purpose of the Year Books in the context of English law?
In which language was the Magna Carta originally written?
In which language was the Magna Carta originally written?
What did the term 'libertas' in the Magna Carta primarily signify?
What did the term 'libertas' in the Magna Carta primarily signify?
Flashcards
Old English
Old English
The language used for legal texts in Anglo-Saxon England, influenced by Germanic traditions.
Seo Domboc
Seo Domboc
King Alfred's Law-Book, a compilation of biblical teachings and customary laws in Old English.
Latin
Latin
The language of the Church in Anglo-Saxon England, influencing legal terms.
Norman Conquest
Norman Conquest
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Latin
Latin
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Norman French
Norman French
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Magna Carta
Magna Carta
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Libertas
Libertas
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Study Notes
Anglo-Saxon Legal Language
- Anglo-Saxon legal texts used Old English, drawing from Germanic traditions.
- King Alfred's Law-Book combined biblical teachings and customary laws.
- Latin, the language of the Church, influenced legal terminology, exemplified by the word "clerk."
- Norse invasions introduced terms like "lagu" (law) into the English legal vocabulary.
Norman and Angevin Legal Reforms
- The Norman Conquest centralized legal authority, establishing royal courts in Westminster.
- Feudal law was introduced, with the king holding ultimate land ownership.
- Latin became the language of royal chancery and ecclesiastical courts.
- Norman French emerged as the language of the nobility and courts.
- English terms like "writ" and "sheriff" alongside foreign languages persisted.
- Latin writs (brevia) were crucial in developing English common law, standardizing royal interventions.
Multilingualism of Common Law
- Court judgments were recorded in Latin (plea rolls) and Norman French (Year Books).
- Law French continued as a legal dialect until the 17th century.
- Legal literature, like Bracton's "De legibus et consuetudinibus Angliae," was written in Latin.
- The development of English law was influenced by the complex interplay of Latin, Law French, and English.
Magna Carta
- Magna Carta, written in Latin, limited royal power and protected feudal rights.
- The concept of "libertas" (freedom) reflected legal protections for subjects.
- Magna Carta established principles of consent to taxation and due process, balancing royalty and customary norms.
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