revision Flashcards
What is one false statement about language change?
That only internal features are relevant for explaining language change, ignoring external factors.
From which languages did English borrow words during the Old and Middle English periods?
Norman French, Old Norse, Latin
Was Old English more synthetic or analytic compared to Middle English?
Old English was more synthetic than Middle English.
Is this text Old or Middle English: “Þa brohton hi him gebrædne fisc”?
Old English.
Give two reasons to identify the text “Þa brohton hi him gebrædne fisc” as Old English.
Spelling evidence: Use of “þ” (thorn).
Grammatical evidence: Verb-subject-object (VSO) word order (“brohton hi him”).
What non-Latin graphemes appear in the phrase “Þa wearð færlice micel eorðstyrung,” and what are their names?
þ (thorn)
ð (eth)
What type of word is “eorðstyrung”?
It is a compound noun.
Identify whether the Old English verb “timbrode” (built) is strong, weak, or irregular.
Weak.
What major vowel change characterizes the Great Vowel Shift?
Long vowels were raised, and the highest vowels diphthongised.
Give an example of a pronunciation difference between Northern and Southern dialects of Middle English.
Northern dialects pronounced “kirk” [k], while Southern dialects had palatalised pronunciation (“church” [tʃ]).
What is an example of Old English irregular verb forms?
The verb “wæs” (was), from “beon/wesan” (to be).
Give two non-Latin graphemes used in Old English.
þ (thorn)
ð (eth)
Explain the difference between Old and Middle English in terms of synthetic and analytic grammar.
Old English is more synthetic, relying on inflectional morphology, while Middle English became analytic, relying more on word order and prepositions.
How did definiteness marking change from Old to Middle English?
Old English relied heavily on demonstratives (e.g., “se”), whereas Middle English developed a more regular use of definite (“the”) and indefinite articles (“a/an”).
What was William Caxton’s importance for the English language?
He introduced printing to England in 1476, significantly aiding the standardization of English spelling.
What type of linguistic evidence helps us reconstruct pronunciation of early English?
Rhymes, spelling errors, loanwords, and contemporary pronunciation guides.
Why does English spelling not always reflect pronunciation?
English spelling became standardized before many significant sound changes, including the Great Vowel Shift.
What morphological feature primarily marked grammatical relationships in Old English nouns?
Case marking (nominative, accusative, dative, genitive)
Which Old Norse-derived pronoun replaced Old English “hi(e)” (they)?
“They”
Give two reasons why Old English inflections declined in Middle English.
Loss of distinctive vowels and final consonants in inflectional endings due to pronunciation changes.
Confusion due to bilingual English-Norse contact in Northern England.
What is a “kenning,” common in Old English poetry?
A metaphorical compound, like “whale-road” (hronrad) meaning “sea.”
Name two lexical fields influenced by Latin borrowings in Old English.
Religion (e.g., “priest”) and education (e.g., “school”).
Which pronouns replaced Old English 3rd person plural forms (“hi,” “hira,” “him”) in Middle English?
They, their, them (from Old Norse).
What was the social reason for the standardization of English?
Increased use of English in official domains such as administration, education, and literature, creating demand for a consistent, unified written form.
