Lecture 2 Flashcards
What are two key features of the Old English vocabulary?
The vocabulary was almost purely Germanic, with only about 3% non-native words, and roughly 80% of it has disappeared from present-day English.
What kind of text provides evidence of Old English vocabulary and its structure?
Excerpts from Beowulf show examples of Old English vocabulary and word order.
What is compounding and how was it used in Old English?
Compounding is the process of joining two free morphemes to form a new word; it was frequently used—especially in poetic texts (e.g., kennings for ‘sea’ like “whale-road”).
Before the Germanic peoples settled Britain, what kind of lexical borrowing occurred on the continent?
Germanic dialects had already borrowed Latin words related to military, trade, and household terms through contact with the Roman Empire.
How significant was the Celtic influence on Old English vocabulary?
Linguistically, the influence was limited—mostly restricted to place names—with debates surrounding the so-called ‘Celtic Hypothesis’ regarding grammar and constructions.
How did Latin enter the Old English lexicon?
Latin was introduced through Christianisation, affecting lexical fields like religion, education, household items, and more.
What types of words did Old Norse contribute to Old English?
Although few words were borrowed during the Old English period, those were mainly technical terms related to seafaring, warfare, law, and administration.
When does the Middle English period begin and what event partly marks its start?
Middle English spans from about 1100/1150 to 1500, beginning shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Which three languages were used in England from 1042 onward?
English, Latin, and French were all used, with their relative importance shifting over time.
How did Norman rule affect the language landscape in England?
The French-speaking ruling class introduced a large influx of French vocabulary and influence in administration, law, and culture.
Why did the status of French decline as a language in England during the Middle English period?
Political changes—such as the loss of Normandy, the Hundred Years’ War, and rising anti-French sentiments—led to a decline in its everyday use.
What factors contributed to the revival of English during the Middle English period?
Social upheavals, population changes, the rise of a middle class, and political events (e.g., Henry IV becoming the first English-speaking king post-Norman Conquest) encouraged the use of English.
In what domains did Latin maintain its influence during the Middle English period?
Latin remained the language of religion, education, law, and scholarly discourse, bolstered by the establishment of universities.
What is a notable difference between Old and Middle English textual evidence?
Middle English texts show a greater variety of dialects and inconsistent spelling since writers recorded language “as they spoke” without a standardized form.
Which new grapheme appears in Early Middle English and what is its origin?
The non-Latin grapheme “yogh” (<ȝ>) appears, likely evolving from a special insular form of the letter <g> used in Old English manuscripts.</g></ȝ>
How did the influence of Old Norse become more apparent in Middle English?
Thousands of everyday words—including both content and function words like pronouns and conjunctions—were borrowed from Old Norse, influencing aspects such as plural pronouns and verb forms.
What impact did French loanwords have on the English lexicon?
They not only introduced new words for novel concepts but often replaced Old English words, sometimes coexisting with them to express different registers or meanings, thereby expanding the lexicon.
