The Old English period (5th-11th centuries)

The Old English period (5th-11th centuries)

The Old English period commenced in 449 AD when three Germanic tribes, namely the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes, arrived from the Continent and settled in the southern and eastern regions of Britain, which were previously inhabited by the Celts. During this period, the Anglo-Saxons spoke their own language called Old English, which was in use from the 5th century to the 11th century.

Old English, being a Germanic language, differed significantly from the Celtic languages spoken by the Britons. It also varied greatly from the modern English we use today. Old English was a highly inflected language, meaning that words could change their form based on their usage in a sentence.

There were four known dialects of Old English,

1. Northumbrian - spoken in northern England and southeastern Scotland.

2. Mercian            - spoken in central England.

3. Kentish             -  spoken in southeastern England.

4. West Saxon     - spoken in southern and southwestern England.

Old English grammar was also complex, featuring five main cases (nominative, accusative, genitive, dative, instrumental), three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter), and two numbers (singular and plural).

The Anglo-Saxons had their own alphabet known as the futhorc, consisting of 24 letters, most of which were named after rune symbols. However, they also adopted the Roman alphabet and eventually transitioned to using it.

The vocabulary of Old English was notably different, with numerous words borrowed from other languages such as Latin, French, and Old Norse. The earliest written account of Anglo-Saxon England dates back to 731 AD, in a document called the Venerable Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which remains the most valuable source from this period.

One of the most renowned examples of Old English literature is the epic poem Beowulf, believed to have been composed between the 8th and 11th centuries. By the end of the Old English period in the late 11th century, the West Saxon dialect had become dominant, resulting in most of the surviving documents originating from this dialect.

Old English can be divided into three distinct periods:

1. Prehistoric or Primitive (5th to 7th Century): Unfortunately, there is very limited literature or documentation available from this period. The only examples we have are a few Anglo-Saxon runes.

2. Early Old English (7th to 10th Century): This period provides some of the earliest documented evidence of the English language. It was during this time that notable authors and poets like Cynewulf and Aldhelm emerged, making significant contributions to Anglo-Saxon literature.

3. Late Old English (10th to 11th Century): This period marks the final phase of the Old English language, which was influenced by the Norman invasion of England. As a result, the English language began to evolve towards Early Middle English, bringing an end to the Old English era.