From Caedmon to Caxton

From Caedmon From Caedmon to Caxtonto CaxtonThomas HoneggerThomas Honegger

[email protected]@gmx.de

http://http://www.db-www.db-thueringenthueringen.de/.de/

content/top/content/top/index.xmlindex.xml

simplified depiction of the development of the Germanic languagessimplified depiction of the development of the Germanic languages

ProtogermanicProtogermanic

NorthgermanicNorthgermanic WestgermanicWestgermanic EastgermanicEastgermanic

Anglo-FrisianAnglo-Frisian Gothic (†) Gothic (†)

Old NorseOld Norse Old EnglishOld English Old High German Old High German

Anglo-NormanAnglo-Norman

Old FrisianOld Frisian Middle EnglishMiddle English Middle High German Middle High German

Old DutchOld Dutch

FrisianFrisian EnglishEnglish German YiddishGerman Yiddish

Scandinavian languagesScandinavian languages Flemish Dutch AfrikaansFlemish Dutch Afrikaans

Characteristics of Characteristics of GermanicGermanic

1) Gmc characterized by two vowel 1) Gmc characterized by two vowel mergers: a) IE /a/ and /o/ > Gmc /a/mergers: a) IE /a/ and /o/ > Gmc /a/

Examples: Lat. octExamples: Lat. octoo = Got. ahtan, = Got. ahtan, Lat. ager = Got. akkrsLat. ager = Got. akkrs

b) IE /a:/ and /o:/ > Gmc /o:/b) IE /a:/ and /o:/ > Gmc /o:/ Examples: Lat. mExamples: Lat. maater = OE mter = OE moodordor

Greek pGreek poos = Goth. fs = Goth. footustus


2) Grimm’s Law (First Consonant 2) Grimm’s Law (First Consonant Shift, c. 500 BC): Shift, c. 500 BC):

a) aspirated voiced stops to voiced a) aspirated voiced stops to voiced stops (bh> b, dh> d, gh>g) stops (bh> b, dh> d, gh>g)

bh > b: IE *bh > b: IE *bhbher- > Lat. fero vs. er- > Lat. fero vs. Goth. Goth. bbairan, Engl. airan, Engl. bbearear

gh > g: IE *gh > g: IE *ghghost- > Lat. hostis vs.ost- > Lat. hostis vs.Goth. Goth. ggasts, Engl. asts, Engl. gguestuest


b) voiced stops to voiceless stops (b, b) voiced stops to voiceless stops (b, d, g > p, t, k)d, g > p, t, k)

Examples: Examples: b > p: Lat. vib > p: Lat. vibbrare vs. Goth. weirare vs. Goth. weippan an d > t: Lat. d > t: Lat. ddecem vs. Goth. ecem vs. Goth. ttaihun, aihun, Eng. Eng. tteneng> k: Lat. g> k: Lat. ggenu vs. Goth. enu vs. Goth. kkniu, Eng. niu, Eng. kkneenee


c) voiceless stops to voiceless c) voiceless stops to voiceless fricatives (p, t, k > f, th, h)fricatives (p, t, k > f, th, h)

Examples: Examples: p > f: Lat. p > f: Lat. ppater vs. Goth. ater vs. Goth. ffadar, adar, Eng. Eng. ffather t > th: Lat. ather t > th: Lat. ttres vs. Goth. res vs. Goth. ththreis, Engl. reis, Engl. ththreereek > h: Lat. k > h: Lat. ccornu vs. Goth. ornu vs. Goth. hhaurn, aurn,

Engl. Engl. hhornorn


3) The ‘free’ or ‘dynamic’ accentual 3) The ‘free’ or ‘dynamic’ accentual system of IE is replaced in Gmc by a system of IE is replaced in Gmc by a system in which root-initial syllables system in which root-initial syllables are stressed. are stressed. IE pitár vs. Goth. fádarIE pitár vs. Goth. fádarExcept for certain prefixes, affixes Except for certain prefixes, affixes can no longer be stressed. can no longer be stressed. Long-term consequence: unstressed Long-term consequence: unstressed syllables are weakened (=> loss of syllables are weakened (=> loss of inflectional endings in ME).inflectional endings in ME).


4) Noun inflection is simplified in 4) Noun inflection is simplified in (but not only in) Gmc. As a rule, (but not only in) Gmc. As a rule, nouns in Gmc languages only have nouns in Gmc languages only have four cases. IE/Latin has nominative, four cases. IE/Latin has nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, ablative, accusative, genitive, dative, ablative, locative, vocative, instrumental; Old locative, vocative, instrumental; Old English has nominative (subject), English has nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), genitive accusative (direct object), genitive (possession), dative (indirect object) (possession), dative (indirect object) [traces of instrumental][traces of instrumental]


Old English noun inflectionOld English noun inflection nominative (subject): stân, pl. stânnominative (subject): stân, pl. stânasas accusative (direct object): stân, pl. accusative (direct object): stân, pl.

stânstânasas genitive (possession): stângenitive (possession): stâneses, pl. stân, pl. stânaa dative (indirect object): stândative (indirect object): stânee, pl. stân, pl. stânumum [traces of instrumental]: stân[traces of instrumental]: stânee, pl. , pl.

stânstânumum


5) In addition to the IE ‘strong’ 5) In addition to the IE ‘strong’ adjective inflection, Gmc develops a adjective inflection, Gmc develops a new ‘weak’ inflection used after new ‘weak’ inflection used after certain determiners. Cf. Modern certain determiners. Cf. Modern German:German:

dieser gute Mann (weak) dieser gute Mann (weak) vs. ein guter Mann (strong)vs. ein guter Mann (strong)


6) All IE distinctions of tense and aspect 6) All IE distinctions of tense and aspect in the verb are lost in Gmc, except for in the verb are lost in Gmc, except for the present and preterite (or: past) the present and preterite (or: past) tenses. New tense distinctions are made tenses. New tense distinctions are made by means of composite forms.by means of composite forms.

OE has only two tense distinctions: OE has only two tense distinctions: present and preterite (more temporal present and preterite (more temporal concepts can be expressed, of course, concepts can be expressed, of course, but additional elements are needed to but additional elements are needed to do so)do so)


7) In addition to IE ‘strong’ verbs, 7) In addition to IE ‘strong’ verbs, Gmc develops a new class of ‘weak’ Gmc develops a new class of ‘weak’ verbs, which form their past and verbs, which form their past and past participle forms by means of a past participle forms by means of a ‘dental suffix’ (/-d/ or /-t/)‘dental suffix’ (/-d/ or /-t/)Example: schwimmen - schwamm - Example: schwimmen - schwamm - geschwommen / swim - swam - geschwommen / swim - swam - swum (strong)swum (strong)vs. kaufen - kaufte - gekauft / climb - vs. kaufen - kaufte - gekauft / climb - climbed - climbed (weak)climbed - climbed (weak)


8) Gmc has a large number of words 8) Gmc has a large number of words that have no cognates in other IE that have no cognates in other IE languages.languages.Examples: Hose/hose, Examples: Hose/hose, Knecht/knight, See/sea, Schiff/ship, Knecht/knight, See/sea, Schiff/ship, Bär/bear, Volk/folk, Schwert/sword Bär/bear, Volk/folk, Schwert/sword etc.etc.

Anglo-Saxon InvasionAnglo-Saxon Invasion

Anglo-Saxon becomes the dominant Anglo-Saxon becomes the dominant language spoken by most of the language spoken by most of the inhabitants of Britain (now: Angle-lond)inhabitants of Britain (now: Angle-lond)

loss of written literary cultureloss of written literary culture Celtic language survives in the Celtic language survives in the

‘margins’ (Wales, Cornwall, Celtic ‘margins’ (Wales, Cornwall, Celtic kingdoms of Northern England and kingdoms of Northern England and Scotland)Scotland)

Re-christianisationRe-christianisation

A.D. 597 Re-christianisation of A.D. 597 Re-christianisation of England through missionaries from England through missionaries from Rome (Augustine of Kent and his Rome (Augustine of Kent and his followers)followers)


Gregory the Great and the slave-boys Gregory the Great and the slave-boys (cf. Bede’s (cf. Bede’s HEGAHEGA II,1) II,1)

bright and fair complexion and hairbright and fair complexion and hair Angles => angelsAngles => angels Deira => rescued Deira => rescued de irade ira and called to and called to

the mercy of Christthe mercy of Christ Aelle => Aelle => AlleluiaAlleluia shall be sung in shall be sung in

their native landtheir native land


effects of the re-christianisation of effects of the re-christianisation of England:England:

Latin (and Greek) taught in Latin (and Greek) taught in monastery schoolsmonastery schools

reading and writingreading and writing England again part of a greater England again part of a greater

cultural realm (Christendom)cultural realm (Christendom)

Languages on the British Languages on the British IslesIsles ????????

CelticCeltic(5th cent. BC)(5th cent. BC)

Latin Latin (1st cent. A.D.)(1st cent. A.D.) Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxon(5th cent. A.D.)(5th cent. A.D.)

Writing SystemsWriting Systems

Celtic OghamCeltic Ogham

Anglo-Saxon Runes Anglo-Saxon Runes (futhorc)(futhorc)

Anglo-Saxon RunesAnglo-Saxon Runes

fufuππorc ....orc .... feoh = money, cattle, wealth (Vieh, feoh = money, cattle, wealth (Vieh,

‘fee’)‘fee’) ur = aurochs, Auerochseur = aurochs, Auerochse ππorn = thorn, Dornorn = thorn, Dorn os = mouthos = mouth rad = ridingrad = riding cen = torchcen = torch ......

Writing systemsWriting systems

Latin alphabet:Latin alphabet:

a b c d e f g h i k l a b c d e f g h i k l m n o p q r s t u v w m n o p q r s t u v w x y zx y z

PeriodizationPeriodization

Old English (Anglo-Saxon)Old English (Anglo-Saxon)500-1100500-1100

Middle EnglishMiddle English1100-15001100-1500

(Early) Modern English (Early) Modern English 1500-1500-


drei geschlechter: masculinum femininum neutrum, drei numeri: singularis dualis pluralis, drei personen: erste zweite dritte, drei genera: activum medium pasivum, drei tempora: praesens praeteritum futurum, drei declinationen: durch A I U [omits strong o-stems and consonant-stems]. (J. Grimm, quoted in Lass 2000:12)


Tripartite division first by Sweet in New English Grammar (1891):

OE: period of full endings ME: period of levelled endings Modern English: period of lost endings.

PeriodizationPeriodization He cwHe cwåƒåƒ, So, Soƒƒlice lice

sum man hsum man hååfde fde twegtwegenen sun sunaa..

ƒƒa a ååfter feawfter feawumum dagdagumum ealle his ealle his ππing gegaderude ing gegaderude se gingrse gingraa sun sunuu, , and ferde and ferde wrwrååclice on clice on feorfeorlenlen rice, and rice, and forspilde forspilde ππar his ar his ååhthtaa..

And he seide, A And he seide, A man hadde twei man hadde twei sonsoneses;;

And not aftir many And not aftir many daidaieses, whanne alle , whanne alle thingthingisis weren weren gedrid togider, the gedrid togider, the yonger sonyonger sonee went wentee forth in forth in pilgrymagpilgrymagee into a into a fer cuntrfer cuntree; and ; and there he wastidthere he wastidee his goodhis goodisis

Criteria for ‘archaism’Criteria for ‘archaism’ a) root-initial accenta) root-initial accent b) at least 3 distinct vowel qualities in b) at least 3 distinct vowel qualities in

weak inflectional syllablesweak inflectional syllables c) a dualc) a dual d) grammatical genderd) grammatical gender e) 4 vowel-grades in (certain) strong e) 4 vowel-grades in (certain) strong

verbsverbs f) distinct dative in at least some nounsf) distinct dative in at least some nouns g) inflected definite article (or proto-g) inflected definite article (or proto-

article)article)

Criteria for ‘archaism’Criteria for ‘archaism’

h) adjective inflectionh) adjective inflection i) infinitive suffixi) infinitive suffix j) person/number marking on the j) person/number marking on the

verbverb

Archaism ranking of Archaism ranking of Germanic languagesGermanic languages

1.0 Gothic, Old English, Old Icelandic1.0 Gothic, Old English, Old Icelandic 0.9 Old High German, Modern 0.9 Old High German, Modern

IcelandicIcelandic 0.6 Middle High German, Modern 0.6 Middle High German, Modern

German, Middle DutchGerman, Middle Dutch 0.5 Middle English0.5 Middle English 0.4 Modern Swedish, Modern Dutch0.4 Modern Swedish, Modern Dutch 0.1 Afrikaans0.1 Afrikaans 0.0 Modern English0.0 Modern English

Germanic language-Germanic language-clustersclusters

1.0-0.9 OLD: Gothic, Old English, Old 1.0-0.9 OLD: Gothic, Old English, Old Icelandic, Modern Icelandic, Old High Icelandic, Modern Icelandic, Old High GermanGerman

0.6 MIDDLE: Middle High German, 0.6 MIDDLE: Middle High German, Modern German, Middle DutchModern German, Middle Dutch

0.35 EARLY MODERN: Middle 0.35 EARLY MODERN: Middle English, Modern Swedish, Modern English, Modern Swedish, Modern DutchDutch

0.15-0.0: MODERN: Afrikaans, 0.15-0.0: MODERN: Afrikaans, EnglishEnglish

Literature in Old EnglishLiterature in Old English

BeowulfBeowulf Fight at FinnsburhFight at Finnsburh Battle of MaldonBattle of Maldon, , Battle of BrunanburhBattle of Brunanburh Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, Judith, Genesis, Exodus, Daniel, Judith,

Christ, Andreas, Judgment Day, Dream Christ, Andreas, Judgment Day, Dream of the Roodof the Rood

RiddlesRiddles Elegies (e.g. Elegies (e.g. Wife‘s LamentWife‘s Lament)) Homilies, as. ChronicleHomilies, as. Chronicle

The Poetic ManuscriptsThe Poetic Manuscripts

The Junius ManuscriptThe Junius Manuscript (Oxford, Bodleian Library, Junius 11)(Oxford, Bodleian Library, Junius 11)GenesisGenesis, , ExodusExodus, , DanielDaniel, , Christ and Christ and SatanSatan

The Vercelli BookThe Vercelli Book(Vercelli [Italy], Bibliotheca (Vercelli [Italy], Bibliotheca Capitolare CXVII)Capitolare CXVII)EleneElene, , Dream of the RoodDream of the Rood, , AndreasAndreas, , Fate of the ApostlesFate of the Apostles, Homilies, Homilies

The Poetic ManuscriptsThe Poetic Manuscripts The Exeter BookThe Exeter Book

(Exter, Cathedral 3501)(Exter, Cathedral 3501)Christ I (Advent Lyrics), Christ II Christ I (Advent Lyrics), Christ II (Ascension), Christ III (Judgment), (Ascension), Christ III (Judgment), Guthlac A& B Guthlac A& B (7th century Mercian (7th century Mercian prince)prince), The Phoenix, Juliana, The , The Phoenix, Juliana, The Wanderer, The Gifts of Men, The Wanderer, The Gifts of Men, The Seafarer, Vainglory, Widsith, The Seafarer, Vainglory, Widsith, The Fortunes of Men, Maxims, Descent into Fortunes of Men, Maxims, Descent into Hell, Soul and Body, Wulf and Hell, Soul and Body, Wulf and Eadwacer, Riddles, The Wife’s LamentEadwacer, Riddles, The Wife’s Lament

St GuthlacSt Guthlac

The Last JudgmentThe Last Judgment

Last JudgmentLast Judgment

Last Judgment Theory Last Judgment Theory MatthewMatthew

Last Judgment Theory Last Judgment Theory JohnJohn

PurgatoryPurgatory

Individual Judgment 1Individual Judgment 1

Michael weighs the soulMichael weighs the soul

Individual Judgment & Individual Judgment & Last JudgmentLast Judgment

From Caedmon to Caxton

Documents

gmc languages

o gmc aexamples

voiceless stops b

new weak inflection

weipan d t

instrumental old english

t example

aspirated voiced stops