Anglo-Saxons was imbued with meanings and acted as a symbol which would have been understood at the time. "Anglo-Saxon" in linguistics is still used as a term for the original West Germanic component of the modern English language, which was later expanded and developed through the influence of Old Norse and Norman French, though linguists now more often refer to it as Old English. Throughout the history of the Anglo-Saxons studies producing a dispassionate narrative of the people has been difficult. In the early Middle Ages the views of Geoffrey of Monmouth produced a personally inspired history that wasn't challenged for
Influence of French on English from the 1066 conquest that proto-English became massively impregnated with Old French, then modern French. It should be noted, however, that only French influenced English in the centuries following the conquest. The reverse contribution of English to French was only real from the eighteenth century. The arrival of William the Conqueror and his barons significantly changed the linguistic situation in England. Norman was essentially imposed in the upper layers of society. The Anglo-Saxon dialects were supplanted by Norman in the circles of the court and aristocracy, justice and the Church. The influential circles, who came from Normandy and settled in