During the 10th century, Â the English language spoken in northern and eastern England began to change under the influence of Old Norse. Â These changes resulted in a north-south linguistic divide which still exists today. Â In this episode we examine how modern linguists use sound changes to identify Norse words in Modern English. Â We also examine English-Norse synonyms derived from common Germanic root words.
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In the early 10th century, King Alfred’s children and grandchildren conquered the Viking region known as the Danelaw. This brought all of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms under the rule of a single monarch. That monarch was Aethelstan who became the first King of England. Â The conquest of the Danelaw was also a family affair. So we explore the etymology of Modern English words related to family and family relations.
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Following the death of Alfred, there was a decade of relative peace between the Anglo-Saxons and the Danes. Â During this period, Scandinavian settlers continued to migrate to the Danelaw. Â In this episode, we explore the early Scandinavian influence on English in the Danelaw. Â We also examine the continuing Viking raids in France, and the founding of Normandy in the year 911.
Map Prepared by Louis Henwood (Click Map for Larger Image)
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After defeating the Danes, King Alfred set about reforming the educational system of Wessex. His reforms promoted English to an unprecedented level. Â His reforms required the translation of many texts from Latin to English, and Alfred himself assisted with those translations. He also issued a new legal code and initiated the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Â One of Alfred’s goals was the unification of the Anglo-Saxon people under Wessex leadership, so we explore the history of English words related to unity.
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In this bonus episode, Kevin Stroud discusses the new audiobook, “Beowulf Deconstructed.” An excerpt from the audiobook is included.
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King Alfred is the only English monarch to be known as âthe Great.â His struggles and ultimate victory over the Danes ensured the survival of the Anglo-Saxon culture and the English language. Â In this episode, we explore the life of King Alfred and the historical events which led to the defeat of the Danes in Wessex. Â We also explore the history of certain words related to topography.
Map Prepared by Louis Henwood (Click Map for Larger Image)
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In this episode, we look at the English terms associated with kings and nobility and explore the concept of Anglo-Saxon kingship. We also look at the poetry of the 9th century poet Cynewulf. Â The link between kings and Cynewulf is a shared root word which gave us the modern word âkin.â Â Lastly, we examine the initial phases of Viking raids in Francia and Britain.
Map Prepared by Louis Henwood (Click Map for Larger Image)
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At the end of the 8th century, Western Europe saw its most powerful kings to date. Â That included Charlemagne in Francia and Offa in Britain. Â Those kings shared a close relationship which extended to their currency. The establishment of an official currency in both kingdoms spurred trade in northern Europe. And the remote beneficiaries of that trade were the Scandinavians. Â Meanwhile, Charlemagne’s reforms in Francia led to the emergence of the Carolingian Renaissance. In this episode, we explore the impact of these events on the English language.
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The modern French language evolved from a Latin dialect spoken in Gaul during the period of the late Roman Empire. That language ultimately became mixed with Old English after the Norman Conquest of 1066. Approximately half of the words in conversational English come from French. Â So in this episode, we explore the ultimate origins of the early Romance dialect known as ‘Old French.’ Â We also examine the impact which the early French language had on English. And along the way, we look at the evolution of the Frankish kingdom from Clovis to Charlemagne.
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Many Anglo-Saxons believed in a world inhabited by monsters and mythological creatures. They also believed in the power of sorcery and witchcraft. These ideas are reflected in the literature of the Anglo-Saxons, most notably the epic poem Beowulf. In this episode, we explore the monsters and mythological creatures of the Anglo-Saxons and their ancestors.
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