THE FRENCH ELEMENT IN ENGLISH

Abstract

THIS paper presents a report of a study' of the French element in English based upon an examination of the derivation of the English words in Thorndike's The Teacher's Word Book.2 This study was made to secure information as to the potential value of French for increased control over the English vocabulary, with the ultimate purpose of paving the way for the utilization of this value by English-speaking students of French. The potential value for the enrichment of English vocabulary inherent in French depends upon the etymological relation between the words of the two languages. The extent of this relationship may be expressed objectively in terms of the number and percentage of English words derived from French. The Thorndike Word Book was chosen as a basis for the etymological study for the two following reasons. First, a list of the English words that are most useful in reading seemed the most appropriate, inasmuch as the development of the ability to read French is generally admitted to be one of the primary objectives for the study of French by American students. Secondly, this list embodies the results of the most extensive word count of reading vocabulary in English that had been made when this study was begun.3 This study differs from other derivative studies that have been made of the same word-list in that it is concerned primarily with the direct rather than with the ultimate sources of the English