Week 5.1 Flashcards
When was Bede’s account of the Anglo-Saxon invasion written?
731 AD
What is the traditional date for the organised Anglo-Saxon invasion of Britain?
449 AD
How is the reality of the Anglo-Saxon invasion different from the traditional view?
It was more a mix of loosely connected tribes and a series of invasions/migrations rather than a single organised event.
What is the origin of the name “Kent”?
It comes from the Celtic root “Cantto” meaning “border land”.
Which two OE dialects were very similar?
Kentish and Frisian
What did Julius Caesar say about the people of Kent in 50 BC?
“By far the most civilised inhabitants are those living in Kent, whose way of life differs little from that of the Gauls.”
What did the September 2022 DNA study reveal about Anglo-Saxon migration?
It pointed to mass immigration of both men and women, with no clear signs of armed conquest.
How did the locals react to Anglo-Saxon cultural practices?
They adopted Anglo-Saxon cultural practices and there was intermarriage between groups.
What happened to the Celts during the Anglo-Saxon invasions, according to Bede? And what was the reality of the Celts’ fate during the invasions?
Bede claimed they were ousted. In some places, the Celts were ousted, but assimilation was more common.
What is substratum influence?
It is when a dominant minority imposed its language on a subjugated majority, but in this case it was not a minority imposing language.
Geographical terms borrowed from Celtic into OE
- Crag
- Cumb
- Binn
- Carr (rock)
- Torr (peak)
River names borrowed from Celtic into Old English
Avon, Thames, Usk, Wye
Name a place name that evolved from a Celtic root to Old English
Dover: from the Brittonic “dubris” to Old English “dofras” (waters).
What is an example of substratum influence in language shift phenomena?
Simplification of the grammatical system or pronunciation due to language shift from Celtic to Old English.
