Old English What to Know

Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was the language spoken in England from the 5th to the 12th centuries. It was the language of the Anglo-Saxon settlers who came to Britain from continental Europe, and it was the predecessor of Modern English.

Here are some key things to know about Old English:

- It was a Germanic language, closely related to other Germanic languages such as German and Dutch.

- It was written using the Anglo-Saxon runes, which were later replaced by the Latin alphabet.

- Old English had a rich vocabulary, including many words that are still used in Modern English today, such as "book", "king", and "love".

- The grammar of Old English was quite different from Modern English, and it used a complex system of declensions and conjugations.

- Old English was the language of literature, law, and religion in England for several centuries.

- The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 had a profound impact on the English language, and Old English gradually began to be replaced by Anglo-Norman, a mix of Old English and Norman French.

- By the 12th century, Old English had largely fallen out of use, but its influence on Modern English can still be seen in the many words and grammatical features that have been preserved.

Learning Old English can be a fascinating and rewarding experience, as it allows us to glimpse into the past and understand the origins of the English language.