Old and Middle English Linguistics
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Questions and Answers

What is the name given to the period of time when England was divided into seven smaller kingdoms?

  • The Roman Empire
  • The Viking Age
  • The Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy (correct)
  • The Dark Ages

    • Which of the following Germanic tribes primarily settled in Kent?

  • Vikings
  • Angles
  • Jutes (correct)
  • Saxons

    • Which of the following is NOT a true statement about the Great Vowel Shift?

  • It caused a change in the pronunciation of long vowels.
  • It resulted in a complete shift in spelling to reflect the new pronunciation. (correct)
  • It is a sound change that affected English language development.
  • It was a gradual process that occurred over several centuries.

    • In what century did the English pronoun 'you' become standard for both singular and plural, effectively replacing 'thou' and 'ye'?

    <p>18th century (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following accurately describes the change in the pronunciation of the vowel sound represented by 'a' in the word 'make' during the Great Vowel Shift?

    <p>/a:/ &gt; /æ:/ &gt; /ɛ:/ (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which Germanic tribe is specifically mentioned as part of the invasions that conquered England?

    <p>Jutes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event did the Treaty of Wedmore accomplish?

    <p>It established the Danelaw region. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which event is associated with the beginning of English becoming the official language in law courts?

    <p>The Hundred Years' War (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following figures is NOT directly associated with the development of English literature during the early English renaissance?

    <p>William Shakespeare (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major consequence of the Great Vowel Shift?

    <p>The transition from Middle English to Modern English. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What grammatical feature was primarily responsible for conveying relationships in Old English?

    <p>Inflectional endings (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding adjectives in Old English?

    <p>Strong declension is applied regardless of determiners. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major change occurred to nouns between Old English and Middle English?

    <p>Inflectional endings were simplified or lost. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method for forming plurals was common in Middle English?

    <p>Using mutated vowel changes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant linguistic feature disappeared in Middle English?

    <p>Grammatical gender distinctions (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which dictionary was the first English monolingual dictionary?

    <p>A Table Alphabeticall (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant development occurred during the Neolithic period in Britain?

    <p>Domesticating animals and farming (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    At what time did the Romans officially withdraw from England?

    <p>410 A.D. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about the influence of Celtic on Old English is correct?

    <p>Celtic mainly survived in place names and a few words. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which tribe's name is the basis for the term 'English'?

    <p>Angles (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of Robert Lowth's contributions to English grammar?

    <p>Establishment of strict rules that persist today (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When did the invasion of England by the Germanic tribes begin?

    <p>449 A.D. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happened to English church officials under William's rule?

    <p>They were replaced by Normans (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    For how long did French remain the primary language of the upper classes in England after the Norman Conquest?

    <p>200 years (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the general attitude of French nobility toward the English language prior to 1200?

    <p>They were indifferent towards it (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect did England's loss of Normandy in 1204 have on the English language?

    <p>It led to a decline in the use of French in England (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    By the end of the 13th century, what was the status of the English language?

    <p>It gained strength with increasing written works (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During the 14th century, what was French's status within the church and educational institutions?

    <p>It remained the prestige language of the aristocracy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characterized the borrowing of French words into English before 1250?

    <p>There were about 900 words primarily related to the church (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major change occurred in the borrowing of French words between 1250 and 1400?

    <p>40% of all French words entered English (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which categories do French borrowings into English primarily fall into?

    <p>Governmental and administrative terms (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of borrowings occurred during the Continental borrowing period from Latin?

    <p>Agricultural and trade-related words (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following Latin words was borrowed during the period of Christian influence?

    <p>sponge (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a major characteristic of the place-names derived from Danish influences?

    <p>They typically end in '-by', '-thorp', or '-thwaite'. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary impact of the Viking Age on Old English vocabulary?

    <p>Borrowing of everyday words and terms related to sea-roving (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which period did the most significant number of Scandinavian place-names enter Old English?

    <p>The Viking Age (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which pronouns in English have origins in the Danish language?

    <p>they, their, them (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the reasons for William of Normandy’s claim to the English throne?

    <p>He received a promise from Edward the Confessor. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant battle took place in September 1066?

    <p>Battle of Hastings (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following was NOT a factor in the decline of borrowings from Latin towards the end of Roman rule?

    <p>Settlement of Danish forces in England (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Flashcards

    Synthetic Language

    A language that uses inflections to convey grammatical relationships.

    Declension Types

    Strong and weak declension relate to adjective inflections based on context.

    Strong vs Weak Verbs

    Strong verbs change vowel in past tense; weak verbs add -ed, -t, or -d.

    Plural Formation

    Common ways to form plurals include adding -s/-es or vowel changes (like man to men).

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    Loss of Gender in Middle English

    Grammatical gender disappeared, replaced by natural gender distinctions.

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    Norman Conquest

    The invasion and occupation of England by the Normans in 1066, leading to significant cultural and political changes.

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    Language of the Upper Classes

    For around 200 years post-Conquest, French was the principal language of the English upper classes.

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    English Language Status Post-1200

    The attitude of French kings and upper classes toward English was one of indifference up to 1200.

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    Loss of Normandy

    In 1204, King John lost Normandy to France, shifting noble focus to England and diminishing French influence.

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    Position of English (End 13th Century)

    By the end of the 13th century, English gained strength with increased usage in literature, prayers, and legal documents.

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    French in 14th Century

    French was regarded as the prestigious language of the aristocracy and universities by the 14th century.

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    Hundred Years' War Impact

    The Hundred Years' War contributed to the decline of French as anti-French sentiments increased in England.

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    Black Death Effect

    The Black Death reduced the lower class population, increasing the importance of their language, English.

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    Borrowing of French Vocabulary

    Post-1250, there was a significant increase in French borrowings into English, especially in governance and law.

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    Germanic Tribes

    The tribes that invaded and conquered England, including the Jutes, Saxons, and Angles.

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    Treaty of Wedmore

    The 878 agreement where King Alfred ended hostilities with the Danes and defined their territories, leading to Danelaw.

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    The Great Vowel Shift

    A major phonetic change in English pronunciation occurring from the 15th to the 18th centuries, shifting long vowels.

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    Inkhorn Terms

    Words borrowed from other languages that Puritans wanted to remove from English for purity.

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    Edward the Confessor

    The king who was more French than English and whose reign foreshadowed the Norman Conquest.

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    Latin Borrowing Periods

    Old English borrowed from Latin during three periods: conquest, Celtic transmission, and Christianity.

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    Continental Borrowing

    This occurred during the Roman conquest of Gaul, leading to approximately 60 Latin words being integrated.

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    Celtic Transmission

    A method through which Latin words entered Old English, mainly via Celtic, after Roman occupation.

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    Christian Influence on Vocabulary

    Christianity brought many religious and household terms into Old English, like 'altar' and 'cap'.

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    Danelaw

    A region of England under Danish law, influencing Old English place names and vocabulary.

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    Scandinavian Place-Names

    Common endings include 'by' (farm), 'thorp' (village), and 'thwaite' (land).

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    Number of Scandinavian Words

    Approximately 900 Scandinavian words are present in Modern English, mostly everyday terms.

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    Viking Influence on Grammar

    The presence of Danes simplified English grammar, leading to misinterpretations and changes.

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    Nominative vs. Objective Case

    Distinction in English second person pronouns: Thou (nominative) vs. Thee (objective).

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    Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy

    The division of Anglo-Saxon England into seven kingdoms from the 6th to 8th centuries.

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    Beowulf

    An Old English epic poem about a hero, vital in Germanic hero legends.

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    Bede

    An English monk and historian known for writing 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People'.

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    A Table Alphabeticall

    The first English monolingual dictionary published in 1604 by Robert Cawdrey, aimed at clarifying French and Latin borrowings.

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    Universal Etymological English Dictionary

    Published in 1721 by Nathaniel Bailey, this dictionary included about 40,000 words, covering slang, dialects, and archaic terms.

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    A Dictionary of the English Language

    Samuel Johnson's 1755 work that provided approximately 40,000 definitions and examples of English words.

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    Palaeolithic humans

    The earliest known inhabitants of England, living during the Old Stone Age, known for their artistic skills.

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    Celtic Language

    The first Indo-European language spoken in England, associated with the Celts, predating Roman influence.

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    Roman Conquest of England

    Started in 43 A.D. under Emperor Claudius, ending with the withdrawal of Roman legions in 410 A.D.

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    Old English period

    The stage of the English language from 450 to 1150, characterized by dialects like Northumbrian and Mercian.

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    Study Notes

    Old English (450-1150)

    • Old English originated from the Indo-European family (Germanic West branch).
    • It was a synthetic language, using inflectional endings to show grammatical connections (e.g., changing word endings for case, gender, or tense).
    • Nouns, adjectives, and pronouns had cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental), numbers (singular, plural, dual), and genders (masculine, feminine, neuter).
    • Adjectives were declined in strong and weak forms. Strong declension was used without articles; weak declension followed articles or demonstratives. Adjective agreement with nouns was based on number, gender, and case.
    • Strong verbs changed stem vowels for past tense (e.g., sing → sang → sung); weak verbs added suffixes (-ed, -t, or -d) for past tense (e.g., love → loved).

    Middle English (1150-1500)

    • Inflectional endings in nouns simplified or disappeared, moving English toward a more analytic structure.
    • Plural nouns were typically formed by adding -s or -es (e.g., trees) or through vowel changes (e.g., man → men).
    • Strong forms of adjectives became standard as weak forms dropped.
    • Old English demonstratives (sē, sēo, þæt; þēs, þēos, þis) were replaced by their modern counterparts (The, This, and That).
    • Personal pronouns lost the dual number (we two, us two).
    • Many strong verbs became weak
    • Auxiliary verbs for tenses increased (e.g., will, shall).
    • Grammatical gender disappeared; distinctions became based on natural gender

    Modern English (since 1500)

    • The Great Vowel Shift altered the pronunciation of long vowels, though their spelling largely remained unchanged. (Seven stages described)
    • Second person pronouns distinguished singular and plural/formal (thou, ye vs. thee, you). "You" eventually became the standard form for both singular and plural in the 17th-18th centuries.
    • Some verbs fluctuated in the early modern period between strong and weak forms. (e.g., help/holp; climb/clomb). Weak forms gradually became dominant.

    Lectures

    • Claudius: Roman conquest of England began in 43 AD.
    • Vortigern: Celtic leader who invited Jutes to help fight Picts and Scots, leading to their settlement in Kent.
    • Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy: England was divided into seven kingdoms (East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Mercia, Northumbria, Sussex, Wessex) from the 6th–8th centuries,
    • Beowulf: Old English epic poem, composition date uncertain, but manuscript created between 975 and 1025 AD.
    • Alfred the Great: King of Wessex and Anglo-Saxons from 871-899, known for restoring churches, education, fostering learning.
    • Ecclesiastical History of the English People: Bede's work, written in Latin, considered an important primary source on Anglo-Saxon history.
    • St. Augustine: Led missionary efforts to convert Britain beginning in 597 AD.
    • Bede: English monk and scholar, considered the "Father of English History," authored Ecclesiastical History in 731 AD.
    • Cnut: Danish King who ruled England 1016-1035. Scandinavian borrowings began.
    • The Treaty of Wedmore: Peace treaty between Alfred the Great & King Guthrum limiting Viking territory to Danelaw.
    • Edward the Confessor: English King, brought up in France, foreshadowed the Norman Conquest by bringing Norman advisors.
    • William, Duke of Normandy: Conquered England in 1066, leading to Norman Conquest establishing Norman French as dominant lang.
    • King John: Lost NormANDY to France; focus shifted to England, no special tie between England and France led to disuse of French.
    • The Hundred Years' War: Contributed to the decline of French in England. Parliament first spoke English in 1362.
    • The Black Death: Reduced lower classes, indirectly increased importance of English.
    • Geoffrey Chaucer: Important figure in English literature (Canterbury Tales).
    • John Wycliffe: Translated the Bible into English.
    • Anglo-Norman French: Dialect spoken in England.

    Early Inhabitants and Anglo-Saxon Invaders

    • Paleolithic humans: Earliest inhabitants of England, language unknown.
    • Neolithic peoples: Later inhabitants, developed agriculture and pottery but their language is lost.
    • Celts: First people whose language is known; later divided into Gaelic and Brythonic groups.
    • Romans: Conquered England in 43 AD, withdrew in 410; leaving a Latin influence.
    • Angles, Saxons, and Jutes (Anglo-Saxons): Germanic tribes who invaded England from 449 onwards; their Germanic language was main one.

    Foreign Influences

    • Celtic: Mostly place names.
    • Latin: Through Romans, Christianity (religious terms), and later learning.
    • Vikings (Scandinavians): Significant influence on vocabulary (especially place names in the north and east of England) and simple words.

    Norman Conquest

    • Normans: Danish settlers in France who conquered England in 1066, leading to French becoming the language of the upper classes.
    • William the Conqueror: Became King of England, replacing English churchmen and nobles with Normans.
    • Loss of Normandy: King John losing Normandy in 1204 further separated English and French ties.
    • Hundred Years' War: Conflict with France, contributing to the decline of French and a rise in English.
    • The Black Death: Increased the importance of the common language of the lower class.

    Language Development

    • Great Vowel Shift: Pronunciation changes in Modern English long vowels.
    • Middle English: Loss of inflections, development of standard English (East Midland dialect).
    • Modern English: Prescriptive grammar, dictionaries, and debates about language standardization.

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    Explore the evolution of the English language from Old English to Middle English in this quiz. Discover the grammatical structures, including noun inflections and verb conjugations, that shaped early English. Test your knowledge of these historical linguistic phases and their characteristics.

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