When did the English become the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament?

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Multiple Choice

When did the English become the preferred language of the royal court and Parliament?

The shift from French and Latin to English in official government work happened during the 14th century. After the Norman Conquest, French dominated royal courts and Parliament, but English gradually grew in use as more officials spoke it and as English prose and law developed. A landmark moment is the 1362 Statute of Pleading, which established that court proceedings could be conducted in English, signaling that English was now the workable language for official business. Over the next few decades, Parliament and royal administration increasingly used English, and by around 1400 it had become the standard language for the royal court and Parliament. The earlier dates are before the full shift had taken hold, and the later date is well after the transition was already complete, making 1400 the best fit.

The shift from French and Latin to English in official government work happened during the 14th century. After the Norman Conquest, French dominated royal courts and Parliament, but English gradually grew in use as more officials spoke it and as English prose and law developed. A landmark moment is the 1362 Statute of Pleading, which established that court proceedings could be conducted in English, signaling that English was now the workable language for official business. Over the next few decades, Parliament and royal administration increasingly used English, and by around 1400 it had become the standard language for the royal court and Parliament. The earlier dates are before the full shift had taken hold, and the later date is well after the transition was already complete, making 1400 the best fit.

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