Charackteristics of Old English (OE) Flashcards
When did OE start?
English has its beginnings around year 450 ce when speakers of germanic language settled in Britain
Does OE have a free word order?
yes, it is relatively free
Is the OE language syntetic or analytic?
synthetic
What is special about the synthetic OE language`?
a syntethic language has free word order, they rely on case markings on nouns, verbs and adjectives.
what is special about an analytic languge?
An analytic language rely more word order and on prepositions, auxiliaries and articles = grammatical words.
what is the cause of the change from synthetic to analytic?
A contact with speakers of celtic, scandinavian and other languages and language internal factors
When did French and latin come into the english language?
During the middle english period, 1150-1500
Many case endings have dissapeared and the use of grammatical words is on the increase
French and latin caused sound changes like?
Expanded use of V and d3 and many derivational affixes such as -ity and -ify
How does a syntetic language indicate the function of a subject ?
Either by marking on the subject called nominative case or by marking on the number (plural/singular) and person of the subject called agreement.
What are these symbols þ , æ, ð, w, 7, ʒ, p, u u, y, 8
þ= thorn θ ð "that" æ= ash hwæ" ð= eth "that" w= wynn, wen 7= and ʒ= yogh mostly j as in many p= wynn wen "we" u u = uerc "work" y = Y syddan "since" 8= ampersand (and)
In OE are adverbials a function or a class?
Adverbials that show were, when , why and how the event or state described by the verb takes place, that are a function but that adverbs are a word class.
In OE, adverbs ends in?
-e or -lice
What case does subjects have?
nominative , “ se cyning”, “fæder”
what case does direct objects have?
accusative case
what case does indirect objects have?
dative case
