Which language of origin is characterized by special endings like -ette and -ique?

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The choice of Norman French as the correct answer is based on the unique linguistic characteristics it introduced to the English language following the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Norman French has a significant influence on Middle English, particularly in vocabulary related to law, art, and culture. The special endings such as -ette (as in "ballet") and -ique (as in "unique") are hallmark features of words borrowed from French, reflecting a certain elegance or stylistic quality that differentiates them from English words.

While Latin has contributed many terms to English, especially in scientific and academic contexts, the specific endings in question are more closely associated with French influence. Anglo-Saxon, or Old English, is the root of the English language and does not exhibit these endings. Greek, while it has provided numerous terms in fields like science and philosophy, also does not incorporate these particular French endings in the same way. Therefore, the distinctive suffixes of -ette and -ique lead to the conclusion that the correct origin is Norman French.

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