Workgroups

Question 1

Metathesis

Answer 1

The switching around of sounds. Metathesis of /r/ often before short vowels followed by /n/ /d/ /s/.

Question 2

Which segments are most likely to be deleted?

Answer 2

Unstressed segments

Question 3

An example of assimilation

Answer 3

Palatalisation of alveolar sound before a front vowel.

/g/ pronounced as /j/

Question 4

Can you think of a word that changed its meaning?

Answer 4

1. Unicorn
   • Mythical creature
   • Anyone/thing who’s unique/special
2. Mouse
   • Rodent
   • Computer device

Question 5

Example of P- and Q-Celtic

Answer 5

Welsh map (son) -> ap rhys -> price

Scottish Gaelic mac (son) -> McDonald’s

Question 6

In which ways did Proto-Germanic branch off?

Answer 6

West, East and North Germanic

Question 7

What was the social position of the Celtic-speaking population of Britain like in the period after the Anglo-Saxon conquest? What consequences did it have for the Celtic languages? And for English?

Answer 7

The Anglo-Saxons became dominant and pushed the Celtic-speaking Britons to the west and north (Wales, Cornwall, Scotland). The Celts who stayed in the Anglo-Saxon controlled areas likely lived in subordinate positions.

Consequences Celtic language:
1. Decline in usage
2. Language shift; adopted OE
2. Regional isolation, because they were pushed to the north and west and their language became isolated and weaker.

Consequences for English:
Celtic languages might have had some impact on Old English. Some place names (Devon, Leeds, Dover) and loanwords (‘crag’ for rock).

Question 8

What were the main linguistic consequences of the Christianisation of England?

Answer 8

1. Latin gave loanwords to English (monk, alter, priest).
2. The Latin alphabet replaced the runic alphabet.
3. Christianity introduced new genres of writing (homilies, biblical translations, saint’s lives).
4. Roman: ð [θ] [ð] æ ʒ
5. Runic: wyn, Þ [θ] [ð]

Question 9

The development of English grammar is often characterised by a change in typology. What kind of change is this? What kind of evidence can you find that English has changed typologically in an Old English text?

Answer 9

1. Prepositions
2. VSO, SOV order; predictable patterns; object before verb
3. Loss of case endings: his hlaforde (= dative ending)

Question 10

Example of a substrate and superstrate

Answer 10

Romans: superstrate
Celts: substrate