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History of English Language (ENG 501)
Fall 2024 Assignment Total Marks: 20 Lecture no.: 07-11 (Topic no. 31-55)
Instructions:
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Q1. (a) Through which process did the Old English expand its vocabulary and what is the difference between affixes and compound words in terms of word formation of Old and Modern English? Give a very brief account.
Answer:
Old English, the language spoken in England from approximately 450 to 1100 AD, underwent significant expansion in its vocabulary through a combination of internal word formation processes and external borrowing.
Internal Word Formation
1.
Affixation:
2. 1. Prefixation: This involved adding prefixes to existing words to create new ones. For example, the prefix "un-" could be added to "happy" to form "unhappy." 2. Suffixation: This involved adding suffixes to existing words to create new ones. For instance, the suffix "-ness" could be added to "good" to form "goodness." 3.
Compounding: This process involved combining two or more words to form a new word. For example, "sun" and "shine" could be combined to form "sunshine."
4.
External Borrowing Old English borrowed words from various languages, primarily Latin and Norse.
Latin Influence:
o Early Latin Influence: Before the Anglo-Saxon settlement, Roman occupation had introduced Latin words related to everyday life, such as "street," "wine," and "cheese." o Late Latin Influence: With the arrival of Christianity, Latin words associated with the Church and religious concepts were introduced, such as "priest," "monastery," and "angel."
Norse Influence: The Viking invasions of the 9th and 10th centuries brought a significant influx of Norse words, particularly those related to warfare, law, and seafaring. Examples include "knife," "sky," and "leg."
Differences in Word Formation Between Old and Modern English
While both Old and Modern English employ affixation and compounding, there are notable differences in their application:
Affixation:
o Old English: A more extensive use of affixes to create new words and grammatical forms. o Modern English: A less frequent use of affixes, with a greater reliance on borrowing and compounding.
Compounding:
o Old English: A common method of word formation, often creating
complex compounds. o Modern English: A continued use of compounding, but often simpler and more straightforward compounds.
(b) Also, briefly describe the characteristics of and influence on the vocabulary of OLD English in terms of Christianity. (Marks 10+10=20)
Answer: The advent of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England had a profound impact on the development of Old English. The introduction of Christian beliefs and practices necessitated the creation of new words to express these concepts. This led to a significant expansion of the Old English vocabulary.
Characteristics of Christian Influence on Old English Vocabulary:
Latin Loanwords:
o The Latin language, used in the Church's liturgy and texts, was a major source of new vocabulary. o Words related to religious concepts, such as "priest," "monk," "nun," "altar," and "baptism," were directly borrowed from Latin. o Many of these Latin words were adapted to fit the phonological and morphological patterns of Old English.
Semantic Shifts:
o Existing Old English words often took on new meanings related to Christian concepts. o For example, the word "halig" (holy) originally referred to something whole or healthy, but it came to be associated with divine purity and sanctity.
New Compounds:
o The combination of Old English roots with Latin prefixes and suffixes created new compound words. o Examples include words like "godspell" (Gospel) and "haliggast" (Holy Ghost).
In essence, Christianity provided a rich source of new concepts and ideas that required linguistic expression. The influence of Latin, the language of the Church, was particularly significant in shaping the vocabulary of Old English.
In Old English Language The Compound Words Means Making of New Words Out of Old Ones by Combining Two Words Together To Expand Meaning of Existing Word
