Scandinavian influences in the Alliterative Morte Arthure

Table of contents

1. Introduction

2. How the Scandinavians entered England

3. Consequences of the invasion

4. What can be said about the borrowings in general

5. Borrowings that give evidence of Scandinavian influences

6. Findings in the “Alliterative Morte Arthure”

7. Conclusion

Bibliography

1. Introduction

The number of Scandinavian loanwords for which the evidence of being part of the English language is fully convincing is about 900 and these are almost always words designating common everyday things and fundamental concepts. It also exists an equal number of words which are probably of Scandinavian origin or in which the influence of Scandinavian forms has entered. Today there are thousands of Scandinavian loan words in the English Language. Most of the Scandinavian loan words first appeared in the written language in Middle English (1100 - 1500), but many were no doubt borrowed earlier, during the period of the Danelaw from the ninth till the tenth century.

The aim of the paper is to give evidence whether the “Alliterative Morte Arthure” was told under strong or weak Scandinavian influences in England, perhaps in the areas of the Danelaw or elsewhere. It is therefore necessary to give a brief history of the settlement of Scandinavian tribes in England and their influence on the language as well as a general overview of possible loans and how to test them. Afterwards the existence and meaning of Scandinavian loan words in the Alliterative Morte Arthure will be analyzed and discussed.

2. How the Scandinavians entered England

The Scandinavian influence is the third big influence of language on the English language. The inhabitants of the Scandinavian peninsula and Denmark were one-time neighbours of the Anglo-Saxons and closely related to them in language and blood. While they remained quietly till the eight century they then started adventures. Possible reasons were of economic or political nature. While The Swedes established themselves in Russia the Norwegians colonized parts of the British Isles, the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland and the coast of Labrador and the Danes finally founded the dukedom of Normandy and conquered England. This can also be seen on the map.

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten^[1]

The Danes are therefore those who had the most extensive influence of all Scandinavian parties in the English language. The invasion of England was started from the sea and so the invaders were called Vikings. This name comes from the term viking derived from Old Norse vīk, a bay, as indicating ‘one who came out from, or frequented, inlets of the sea’ and hence the age was named Viking Age. This period of time can be distinguished into three stages: firstly into the period of early raids (787 - 850) which were simply plundering attacks of small isolated bands upon towns and monasteries near the coast. The second stage (850 - 878) included widespread plundering in all parts of the country and extensive settlement - a work of large armies. The third period (878 - 1042) was characterized as a time of political adjustment and assimilation.^[2]

3. Consequences of the invasion

An important consequence of the invasion was the following permanent settlement of a large number of Scandinavians, mainly Danes, in England. The majority of the invaders settled in the north and east of the country. In 878 the treaty of Wedmore was established and the territory northern and north-eastern of Thames, Lea and Watling Street was to be the subject to Danish law. It defined the line of which the foreigners were henceforth and was called the District of the Danelaw (or “Danelague” or “Dena lagu”). The numerous place-names - which are either of Scandinavian origin or at least influenced by them - give the most extensive evidence of their settlement. The district can be seen on the map.

Abbildung in dieser Leseprobe nicht enthalten^[3]

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^[1] www.bow.k12.nh.us/CyberBUS/vikings/viking_map_of_the_danelaw.htm

^[2] Comp. Albert C. Baugh, A History of the English Language; (1962); 107-125; Dieter Bähr, Einführung ins Mittelenglische; (1975); 22/23, 72,73; Rolf Berndt, History of The English Language; (1982); 62-65; Norman Blake (ed.), The Cambridge History of The English Language Vol II 1066-1476; (1992); 414-423; Manfred Markus, Mittelenglisches Studienbuch; (1990); 3-5, 103-105, 112

^[3] www.bow.k12.nh.us/CyberBUS/vikings/9th.htm