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Old English 2

English Language: AQA A Level, topic 3.6.2

The Vikings

In the 9th century the Danish language spread around England leading to a simplified grammatical system in Old English.

The Second Invasion

The Second Invasion

  • Who invaded?
    • The Vikings.
  • When?
    • Around the start of the 9th century (but recurring for around 200 years).
  • Who had impacted?
    • The original English people.
Old Norse

Old Norse

  • The Vikings brought with them Old Norse, with words that seeped into English like:
    • Score, sky, skive, anger, ball, freckle, neck, root, skull and window.
Old English

Old English

  • Following this, in the 9th century, the Danish language spread around the country leading to a simplified grammatical system in Old English.
  • Also around this time, borders came into place, preventing travel.
  • However, trade was permitted.
Borrowing words

Borrowing words

  • This led to the borrowing and trading of words between English, Danish and Old Norse.
  • Right towards the end of the period of Old English, we get another invasion.

The Normans

When William the Conqueror invaded in 1066, he brought with him the French language, and thousands of words made it into our language.

The third invasion

The third invasion

  • Who invaded?
    • The Normans (and William the Conqueror).
  • When?
  • Who was impacted?
    • The inhabitants of England.
Language

Language

  • When he invaded in 1066, William brought with him the French language.
  • The Normans didn’t speak English and the English didn’t speak French.
Power imbalance

Power imbalance

  • The Normans controlled the English people in an asymmetrical power imbalance.
  • The issue was, the Normans wanted to use the English as slaves, but struggled without means of communication.
  • As a result, Norman words seeped into the English language.
Norman influence

Norman influence

  • The Normans brought with them thousands of words which made it into our language.
  • For example, we get a great influx of words from the semantic fields of law (e.g. arrest, judge, jury), social order (e.g. duke, baron, peasant) and food (more on this in Middle English).

Test yourself on Old English 2

  • Which of these words is NOT an example of Old Norse?

  • Who invaded Britain in 1066?

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