Lexical borrowing in the Middle English period: a multi-domain analysis of semantic outcomes

The Middle English period is well known as one of widespread lexical borrowing from French and Latin, scholarly accounts traditionally assume that this influx loanwords caused many native terms to shift in sense or drop out use entirely. study analyses an extensive dataset, tracking patterns retention, replacement semantic change, comparing long-term outcomes for both non-native words. Our results challenge the conventional view competition between existing foreign incomers. They show there were far fewer instances relexification, more synonymy, during than might have been expected. When retention rates words first attested 1100 1500 are compared, it loanwords, not terms, which likely become obsolete at any point up nineteenth century. Furthermore, proportions involving narrowing broadening (often considered common following arrival a co-hyponym space) low period, regardless language origin.