Chapter 9: Dialects
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Hans Sauer
Abstract
The chapter provides a description of the usual dialectal division of Old English into West Saxon in the South, Kentish in the South-East, and Anglian in the Midlands and the North, with a further subdivision of Anglian into Mercian and Northumbrian. Some of the Anglo-Saxon personalities that are connected with the various dialects are first introduced. A sketch of research on the OE dialects along with some problems for research follows. The chapter then deals briefly with the question of dialects and standard language and with the origin and transmission of the OE dialects. The main dialectal differences in phonology, inflectional morphology, word-formation, vocabulary, and word-geography are outlined, with special attention paid to the (early) runic inscriptions, the Winchester vocabulary, and Wulfstan’s vocabulary. As far as the transmission allows us to judge, there were no differences in syntax. The chapter ends with an exploration of the question of a poetic dialect and of the role of the OE dialects in the further development of the English language.
Abstract
The chapter provides a description of the usual dialectal division of Old English into West Saxon in the South, Kentish in the South-East, and Anglian in the Midlands and the North, with a further subdivision of Anglian into Mercian and Northumbrian. Some of the Anglo-Saxon personalities that are connected with the various dialects are first introduced. A sketch of research on the OE dialects along with some problems for research follows. The chapter then deals briefly with the question of dialects and standard language and with the origin and transmission of the OE dialects. The main dialectal differences in phonology, inflectional morphology, word-formation, vocabulary, and word-geography are outlined, with special attention paid to the (early) runic inscriptions, the Winchester vocabulary, and Wulfstan’s vocabulary. As far as the transmission allows us to judge, there were no differences in syntax. The chapter ends with an exploration of the question of a poetic dialect and of the role of the OE dialects in the further development of the English language.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Chapter 1: Introduction 1
- Chapter 2: Pre-Old English 8
- Chapter 3: Old English: Overview 32
- Chapter 4: Phonology 50
- Chapter 5: Morphology 73
- Chapter 6: Syntax 100
- Chapter 7: Semantics and Lexicon 125
- Chapter 8: Pragmatics and Discourse 140
- Chapter 9: Dialects 160
- Chapter 10: Language Contact: Latin 187
- Chapter 11: English Contact: Norse 202
- Chapter 12: Standardization 220
- Chapter 13: Literary Language 236
- Chapter 14: Early Textual Resources 254
- Index 271
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Chapter 1: Introduction 1
- Chapter 2: Pre-Old English 8
- Chapter 3: Old English: Overview 32
- Chapter 4: Phonology 50
- Chapter 5: Morphology 73
- Chapter 6: Syntax 100
- Chapter 7: Semantics and Lexicon 125
- Chapter 8: Pragmatics and Discourse 140
- Chapter 9: Dialects 160
- Chapter 10: Language Contact: Latin 187
- Chapter 11: English Contact: Norse 202
- Chapter 12: Standardization 220
- Chapter 13: Literary Language 236
- Chapter 14: Early Textual Resources 254
- Index 271
