Old English
A Linguistic Introduction

A clear introduction to English between the 5th century and 1066, specifically designed for use on one-term course modules.

Jeremy J. Smith (Author)

9780521685696, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 2 April 2009

212 pages
24.7 x 16.9 x 1.3 cm, 0.44 kg

'[Old English] is both a comprehensive and impressively concise introduction to the earliest form of our language.' BAAL News (newsletter of the British Association of Applied Linguistics)

Old English provides a clear linguistic introduction to English between the 5th century and the Norman invasion in 1066. Tailored to suit the needs of individual course modules, it assumes no prior knowledge of the subject, and presents the basic facts in a straightforward manner, making it the ideal beginners' text. Students are guided step-by-step through the main characteristics and developments of English during that period, aided by concise chapter summaries, suggestions for further reading, and a comprehensive glossary. Each chapter is accompanied by an engaging set of exercises and discussion questions based on authentic Anglo-Saxon texts, encouraging students to consolidate their learning, and providing essential self-study material. The book is accompanied by a companion website, featuring solutions to the exercises and useful additional resources. Providing essential knowledge and skills for those embarking on the study of Old English, it is set to become the leading introduction to the subject.

1. About old English
2. Describing language
3. The structure of old English
4. Spellings and sounds
5. The old English lexicon
6. Old English grammar I: syntax
7. Old English grammar II: inflexional morphology.

Subject Areas: Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [CFG], Historical & comparative linguistics [CFF], Linguistics [CF]