The "Modularbeit" is concerned with questions of language contact between Old Norse and Old English in the region later "Danelaw", which might have influenced the modification of Old English third person plural pronomina with base "h" into a new form with the base "th", as we still know it today: "they, them, their". Walking through the streets of York several years ago, I was welcomed by a fierce-looking crowd of Vikings running towards me. In my case, though, the horde was just a group of actors commemorating regional history. At the end of the 8th century, Scandinavian Viking armies conquered different territories in Europe. England was attacked by Danish Vikings starting in the 780s . After several years of mere raiding, 851 marked their first stay during winter. The Danish conquests developed into a permanent settlement in some parts of England and finally led to a treaty signed in 886 between a Danish leader and the king of Wessex, then central power of England. The treaty acknowledged the Danish rule over Northeast England, the territory later being called Danelaw . The Danish influence ceased until 954 , but linguistic evidence of this contact with the Danes remains incorporated even in Modern English . One remarkable feature of this evidence is the English system of the third-person plural personal pronouns they, them, and their, whose development shall be examined more closely in this paper. In Modern English, ‘they’ plays an important role. On one hand, it can be used as a generic synonym for ‘people’ , often leading to an imprecise definition of who “they” actually are. On the other hand, it has served as a common-gender substitution for the masculine third-person singular pronoun ‘he’ when speaking of a person of unknown sex. Most importantly and originally, however, ‘they’ has been a personal pronoun in the plural of the third person.
The reasons for the use of pronouns are mainly economical, for abbreviation . An aforementioned object is referred to by a shorter word, the pronoun. Following this approach of linguistic economy, it is important to remark the difference between suppletion and grammaticalization, or between condensation and expansion .
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Where they came from
- 2 'They' as a third-person personal pronoun
- 2.1 The Old English system
- 2.1.1 Relevant changes in the English language
- 2.2 The Old Norse system
- 3 Sources
- 4 The integration process of they, them, and their in the English language
- 5 References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the development of the English third-person plural personal pronouns "they," "them," and "their." It investigates their origins, tracing their evolution from Old English and Old Norse systems to their modern usage. The paper aims to explain the linguistic reasons behind the integration of these pronouns into the English language.
- The historical context of the Scandinavian influence on English.
- A comparison of the third-person pronoun systems in Old English and Old Norse.
- The impact of linguistic changes (phonological and grammatical) on pronoun usage.
- The role of linguistic economy and grammaticalization in pronoun development.
- The integration process of "they," "them," and "their" into the English language.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1 Where they came from: This chapter sets the historical stage by discussing the Viking invasions of England, beginning in the late 8th century. It highlights the establishment of the Danelaw, a region under Danish rule in northeastern England, and emphasizes the lasting linguistic impact of this contact, particularly the influence on the development of the third-person plural pronouns. The chapter establishes the historical context crucial for understanding the subsequent linguistic analysis.
2 'They' as a third-person personal pronoun: This chapter introduces the modern usage of "they" and its multifaceted roles as a generic pronoun, a common-gender substitute for "he," and its primary function as a third-person plural pronoun. It introduces the key concepts of suppletion and grammaticalization, arguing that the irregular nature of frequently used pronouns, like "they," is economically advantageous in language. This chapter lays the foundation for the detailed examination of the Old English and Old Norse pronoun systems.
2.1 The Old English system: This section analyzes the Old English third-person pronoun system, highlighting its complexities and ambiguities. It describes the system's use of an initial "h" as a marker, the lack of gender distinction in the plural, and the presence of homonymous forms. The analysis emphasizes the potential for misunderstanding due to indistinct forms and the multiple functions of certain pronouns, creating a context for understanding the later developments and the need for change.
2.1.1 Relevant changes in the English language: This section details the relevant changes that occurred in the English language, leading to a shift in the importance of personal pronouns. It explains how the loss of verb inflection and phonological changes increased the potential for ambiguity in the pronoun system and how these changes created a need for a clearer, more distinct system of pronouns.
2.2 The Old Norse system: This section presents the Old Norse third-person pronoun system, providing a comparative framework to analyze the Old English system and its evolution. The comparison between these two systems sets the stage for explaining the ultimate integration of the Scandinavian pronouns into English.
3 Sources: This chapter outlines the sources used in the research, including written records of Old English and Old Norse, focusing on the challenges in studying language contact and the complexities inherent in examining historical linguistic processes. It sets the methodological context for the analysis and highlights the importance of understanding the limits of the available data in interpreting historical linguistic change.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Old English, Old Norse, third-person plural pronouns, they, them, their, language contact, linguistic change, grammaticalization, suppletion, Viking invasions, Danelaw, pronoun development, historical linguistics.
FAQ: A Comprehensive Language Preview on the Development of the English Third-Person Plural Pronouns "They," "Them," and "Their"
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper examines the historical development of the English third-person plural personal pronouns "they," "them," and "their." It traces their evolution from Old English and Old Norse, explaining their integration into the English language.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the historical context of Scandinavian influence on English, a comparison of pronoun systems in Old English and Old Norse, the impact of linguistic changes (phonological and grammatical) on pronoun usage, the role of linguistic economy and grammaticalization in pronoun development, and the integration process of "they," "them," and "their" into English.
What is the historical context discussed in the paper?
The paper begins by discussing the Viking invasions of England and the establishment of the Danelaw, emphasizing their lasting linguistic impact, particularly on the development of third-person plural pronouns. This sets the historical stage for understanding the subsequent linguistic analysis.
How does the paper compare Old English and Old Norse pronoun systems?
The paper analyzes the Old English third-person pronoun system, highlighting its complexities and ambiguities, including the use of an initial "h" as a marker, the lack of gender distinction in the plural, and the presence of homonymous forms. It then compares this system to the Old Norse system, showing how the differences and similarities influenced the evolution of English pronouns.
What linguistic changes are discussed in relation to pronoun development?
The paper discusses the loss of verb inflection and phonological changes in English, explaining how these increased the potential for ambiguity in the pronoun system and created a need for a clearer system. The concepts of suppletion and grammaticalization are introduced to explain the irregular nature of frequently used pronouns.
What is the significance of the Danelaw in this study?
The Danelaw, a region in northeastern England under Danish rule, is crucial because it represents a period of significant language contact between Old English and Old Norse. This contact directly influenced the development and adoption of the pronouns "they," "them," and "their" in English.
What sources were used in this research?
The research utilizes written records of Old English and Old Norse, acknowledging the challenges inherent in studying language contact and the complexities of examining historical linguistic processes. The limitations of the available data are also discussed.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
Chapter summaries provide a concise overview of each chapter's content, tracing the historical context, the evolution of pronoun systems in Old English and Old Norse, the impact of linguistic changes, and the methodology used in the research. They offer a structured understanding of the development of "they," "them," and "their."
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include Old English, Old Norse, third-person plural pronouns, they, them, their, language contact, linguistic change, grammaticalization, suppletion, Viking invasions, Danelaw, pronoun development, and historical linguistics.
What is the overall conclusion of the paper?
The paper concludes by explaining the linguistic reasons behind the successful integration of "they," "them," and "their" into the English language, highlighting the interplay of historical events, linguistic structures, and the inherent drive towards linguistic economy and clarity.
- Quote paper
- Martin Jähnert (Author), 2008, How 'they' conquered England, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91925
