Difference between revisions of "Old English"
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| − | '''Old English''' is an early form of the english [[language]] that was spoken in [[England]] around 1000 years ago. It is sometimes called [[anglo-saxon]]. The language spoken in England is considered Old English [[450]][[AD]] until some time after the [[Norman]] invasion of england (around [[1066]][[AD]]), when it becomes [[Middle English]]. Most Old English texts are now [[ |
+ | '''Old English''' is an early form of the english [[language]] that was spoken in [[England]] around 1000 years ago. It is sometimes called [[anglo-saxon]]. The language spoken in England is considered Old English [[450]][[AD]] until some time after the [[Norman]] invasion of england (around [[1066]][[AD]]), when it becomes [[Middle English]]. Most Old English texts are now [[Transliteration|transliterated]] rather than being produced in [[period]] typefaces. |
== Major differences from modern English == |
== Major differences from modern English == |
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== Samples of Old English == |
== Samples of Old English == |
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+ | === Beowulf (circa 900 AD) === |
| − | Beowulf is a traditional heroic epic poem in Old English alliterative verse. At 3182 lines, it is far more substantial than any similar work in the language, representing about 10% of the extant Anglo-Saxon corpus. The poem is untitled in the manuscript, but has been known as Beowulf since the early [[19th century]]. |
+ | [[Beowulf]] is a traditional heroic epic poem in Old English alliterative verse. At 3182 lines, it is far more substantial than any similar work in the language, representing about 10% of the extant [[Anglo-Saxon]] corpus. The poem is untitled in the [[manuscript]], but has been known as Beowulf since the early [[19th century]]. |
The [[Project Gutenberg]] e-text of Beowulf can be found at http://library.adelaide.edu.au/etext/pg/etext97/bwulf10.txt |
The [[Project Gutenberg]] e-text of Beowulf can be found at http://library.adelaide.edu.au/etext/pg/etext97/bwulf10.txt |
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Many early examples of old english (and other period languages) are of a religious nature. The Lord's Prayer is a good example of the change in [[English]] over time. |
Many early examples of old english (and other period languages) are of a religious nature. The Lord's Prayer is a good example of the change in [[English]] over time. |
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| − | Dated |
+ | ====Dated 1611 AD.==== |
| − | + | :Our father which art in heauen, |
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| − | + | :hallowed be thy name. |
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| − | + | :Thy kingdom come. |
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| − | + | :Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen. |
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| − | + | :Giue us this day our daily bread. |
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| − | + | :And forgiue us our debts as we forgiue our debters. |
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| − | + | :And lead us not into temptation, |
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| − | + | :but deliuer us from euill. |
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| − | + | :Amen. |
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| + | Most modern English speakers should be able to understand this version of the Lord's Prayer. Note the use of u in place of v. It is not until fairly recently that u an v have been considered separate letters (a good example of this can be seen in the glossary of the [[Forme of Cury]]). |
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| − | Dated [[1384]] AD. |
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| − | Dated |
+ | ====Dated 1384 AD. ==== |
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| + | Most modern English speakers should be able to understand some of this version of the Lord's Prayer. Note the use of the letter , this has essentially the same value as "th" in modern English. |
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| + | ====Dated circa 1000 AD.==== |
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| + | This version of the Lord's Prayer probably isn't recognizable by the majority of modern English speakers. 1000 AD is before the [[Norman]] [[invasion]] of [[England]] and therefore many of the words in Modern English that were taken from french are not yet present in the Language. |
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