Summary 5

Question 1

the runic alphabet is used mainly in inscriptions on what?

Answer 1

stone, wood, bone, or metal, not for any lengthy texts

Question 2

when were missions sent to Christianize the (pagan Germanic) English?

Answer 2

In the sixth century

Question 3

where were the main centres of writing for several centuries?

Answer 3

monasteries

Question 4

Why does English have a lot of irregular noun plurals?

Answer 4

Many words borrowed during and after the Renaissance retained their plural forms: analysis –
analyses, alumnus – alumni (later)

Question 5

In Old English, (just as in Modern German) nouns could form their plurals in several different ways:

Answer 5

• By adding –(a)n (“weak” nouns):
  nama – naman; sune – sunan; oxa – oxan
• By adding –(a)s: originally not very many: - stan – stanas; engel - engelas
• By adding –u or –a: scip – scipu; lar - lara
• Zero plurals: no ending in the nominative plural:
  OE: hūs – hūs; word - word
  Modern English: deer, sheep
  Often extended to other animals, usually hunted game
• Through i-mutation (i-Umlaut)

Question 6

Examples of noun plurals with i - mutation:

Answer 6

man – men; foot – feet; tooth – teeth; goose – geese

mouse – mice; louse – lice