Some distinguishing features of Old English
#Middle english time period full#
Likewise, the cataclysmic political events of the Norman Conquest took some time to show their full impact on the English language. However, the linguistic impact of this contact is mainly evident only in the Middle English period. Nearly all of our surviving documentary evidence for Old English is mediated through the Church, and the impress of the literary culture of Latin Christianity is deep on nearly everything that survives written in Old English.Ĭonflict and interaction with raiders and settlers of Scandinavian origin is a central theme in Anglo-Saxon history essentially from the time of the first recorded raids in the late eighth century onwards. One of its many areas of impact was the introduction of writing extensive texts in the Roman alphabet on parchment (as opposed to inscribing very short inscriptions on wood, bone, or stone in runic characters). The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, which began in the late sixth century and was largely complete by the late seventh century, was an event of huge cultural importance. beforehand) or during or after the conversion to Christianity (i.e. Certainly very few words were borrowed into English from Celtic (it is uncertain whether there may have been more influence in some areas of grammar and pronunciation), and practically all of the Latin borrowings found in Old English could be explained as having been borrowed either on the continent (i.e. Precisely what fate befell the majority of the (Romano-)British population in these areas is a matter of much debate. (On the history of the name, see England n.)
However, it is uncertain how much Latin remained in use in the post-Roman period.ĭuring the course of the next several hundred years, gradually more and more of the territory in the area, later to be known as England, came under Anglo-Saxon control.
In Roman Britain, Latin had been in extensive use as the language of government and the military and probably also in other functions, especially in urban areas and among the upper echelons of society. and adj.īefore the coming of the Anglo-Saxons, the majority of the population of Britain spoke Celtic languages. (and adv.) and n., and also Middle English n. On the history of the terms see Old English n. ‘Anglo-Saxon’ was one of a number of alternative names formerly used for this period in the language’s history. It is thus first and foremost the language of the people normally referred to by historians as the Anglo-Saxons.
It refers to the language as it was used in the long period of time from the coming of Germanic invaders and settlers to Britain-in the period following the collapse of Roman Britain in the early fifth century-up to the Norman Conquest of 1066, and beyond into the first century of Norman rule in England. Old English is the name given to the earliest recorded stage of the English language, up to approximately 1150AD (when the Middle English period is generally taken to have begun).
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