Assignment # 2, Old English: Lazzús, Lya

1. When was Old English spoken?

Between the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century.

2. Name 4 language groups which influenced the development of Old English.

Germanic, Latin , Viking, Celtic.

3. In the Phonology section, name 5 phonetical differences between Old English & Modern English.

Fricative - palatal (ç)
Fricative - alveolar s (z)
Fricative - velar (x) (ɣ)
Fricative - labiodental f (v)
Fricative - dental θ (ð)

4. Are there any similarites between Old English and Modern English? Name them.

The word order subject-verb-object (SVO)

Old English is a language rich with morphological diversity and is spelled essentially as it is pronounced. It maintains several distinct cases: the nominative, accusative, genitive, dative and (vestigially) instrumental, remnants of which survive only in a few pronouns in modern English.

5. In the Orthography section, enlarge the picture of the runic alphabet. How many letters (runes) are there in this alphabet?

There are 34 letters (runes)

6. Which epic poem was originally written in Old English?

Beowulf

7. In the See Also section, click on: Beowulf. Appoximately when was Beowulf written?

Between the 8th and the early 11th centuries.

8. Even though Beowulf was written in England, the story takes place in which countries?


in Scandinavia.

9. In the poem, which 3 antagonists does Beowulf battle or fight against?

Grendel, Grendel's mother, and an unnamed dragon.

10. What happens to Beowulf at the end of the story?

He is fatally wounded in the final battle, and after his death he is buried in a barrow in Geatland by his retainers.

11. Who was the author of Beowulf?

it is a poem of an anonymous authorship.

12. What were the titles and the dates of the two film versions of Beowulf?

Beowulf (1999)
Beowulf and Grendel (2005)