Old English
1. Old English Period Overview
- Timeframe: AD 449 to AD 1066.
- Names: Also known as Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Celtic, with the first two being more popular.
- Historical Significance:
- The arrival of the Anglo-Saxons from Europe to Britain in 449 marked the beginning.
- The Norman Conquest in 1066 infused many French words into English.
2. Anglo-Saxon Influence
- Anglo-Saxon Tribes: War-like tribes from Europe that transformed Celtic Britain into Germanic England.
- Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy: Seven kingdoms formed by the Saxons, who eventually dominated due to their superior political organization.
- Celtic Influence: Minimal influence on the Anglo-Saxons; few Celtic words remain, mostly place and river names (e.g., Dover, Thames, Trent).
3. Dialectal Variation in Old English
- Dialects:
- Kentish
- Northumbrian
- Mercian
- West Saxon
- Cause of Variation: The involvement of three different Anglo-Saxon tribes led to the existence of multiple dialects.
4. Characteristics of Old English
- Language Differences:
- Alien spelling, unfamiliar vocabulary, and different grammatical structures.
- Writing System:
- Initially used Runic alphabets with sharp, straight lines.
- Post 6th Century: Shift to Roman script due to the spread of Christianity.
- Norman Conquest (1066): Introduction of French characters and letters like Q, W, J.
5. Foreign Influences on Old English
- Repeated Foreign Intrusions:
- Latin and Scandinavian influences were significant.
- Roman and Scandinavian invasions brought in their vocabulary.
- Latin Influence:
- Pre-Anglo-Saxon Era: Latin was a world language, influencing many European languages.
- Post-Anglo-Saxon Era: Military, agriculture, and trade vocabularies were Latin-derived (e.g., ‘wall’ from “vallum”).
- Christianity’s Role: Spread of literacy around AD 600 brought more Latin words into English, particularly in religion and learning (e.g., ‘heaven’, ‘gospel’, ‘school’).
- Scandinavian Influence:
- Vikings’ Role: Scandinavian inhabitants like Vikings introduced their language.
- Vocabulary Expansion: Everyday interactions led to the incorporation of basic words (e.g., ‘birth’, ‘sky’, ‘get’).
- Grammatical Influence: Pronouns like ‘they’, ‘their’, and ‘them’ were borrowed from Scandinavian languages.
6. Old English Literature
- Types:
- Oral Tradition: Brought by Germanic tribes.
- Written Tradition: Songs, poems, and religious writings after literacy spread.
- Surviving Manuscripts:
- Beowulf Manuscript
- Junius Manuscript
- Exeter Book
- Vercelli Book
- King Alfred’s Contributions:
- Role: Scholar, soldier, and ruler who translated Latin works into West Saxon.
- Notable Work: The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the first English prose and continuous history of England.
7. End of Old English
- Norman Conquest Impact:
- French Dominance: French became the language of the court, education, and governance.
- Survival of English: Continued to be the language of the masses, eventually regaining dominance due to inter-marriage and cultural integration.
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