Syntax and Style in Old English

Originally published in 1940, this book was written in 'an attempt to drive a few main lines through the almost unexplored tract of Old English syntax'.

S. O. Andrew (Author)

9781107559776, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 12 October 2015

122 pages
21.8 x 14 x 0.8 cm, 0.12 kg

Originally published in 1940, this book was written in 'an attempt to drive a few main lines through the almost unexplored tract of Old English syntax'. The text also reaches important conclusions regarding the characteristic features of Old English style and its close relationship with syntactical elements, both in prose and verse. Reference is frequently made to the 'traditional text' of Beowulf. That is to say, the text as it was usually punctuated by editors at the time of publication. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in Old English and linguistics.

Preface
Texts referred to, with abbreviations
1. Old English word-order
2. Sentences introduced by ?a
3. ?aer and ?nne-sentences
4. Sentences introduced by aer, for?am, nu, etc.
5. Relative and demonstrative pronouns in Old English
6. Some syntactical groups in Old English
7. Negative words and sentences
8. Poetic idioms: (i) the asyndetic co-ordinate clause
9. Poetic idioms: (ii) dubious forms of principal sentence
11. Parataxis
12. The forms of the Old English relative pronoun
Index.

Subject Areas: Grammar, syntax & morphology [CFK]