Which statement about language use is stated in the material?

Which statement about language use is stated in the material?

• A. Documents were written in Latin, and speech used Latin or French, while English was considered the commoners' language.
• B. Documents were written in English, and speech used Latin.
• C. Documents were written in French, and speech used English.
• D. Documents were written in Latin, and speech used English.

Answer: (A)

In this medieval context, written language and spoken language did not align the same way across society. Latin remained the language of formal writing—church, law, and administration—so documents were written in Latin. For everyday conversation, the ruling classes often spoke Norman French, while English stayed the language of the common people. The statement mirrors that situation: documents in Latin, speech in Latin or French, and English as the language of the commoners. That combination fits the historical pattern after the Norman Conquest, showing how written culture and spoken language were distributed among different social groups. The other options misstate how documents and speech were actually used in this period, either suggesting English for official documents or English as the elites’ spoken language.

In this medieval context, written language and spoken language did not align the same way across society. Latin remained the language of formal writing—church, law, and administration—so documents were written in Latin. For everyday conversation, the ruling classes often spoke Norman French, while English stayed the language of the common people. The statement mirrors that situation: documents in Latin, speech in Latin or French, and English as the language of the commoners. That combination fits the historical pattern after the Norman Conquest, showing how written culture and spoken language were distributed among different social groups. The other options misstate how documents and speech were actually used in this period, either suggesting English for official documents or English as the elites’ spoken language.