How Did the Anglo-Saxon Language Evolve and Survive?
Anglo-Saxon, a language that flourished in Britain from the 5th to the 11th centuries, is often misunderstood as having suddenly died out. In reality, it did not become extinct but transformed into something else, primarily due to the addition of French vocabulary and Danish syntax. This article explores the evolution of Anglo-Saxon into the modern English language and its enduring influence on contemporary English.
A Transitional Period in Language
The Oaths of Strasbourg from 842 CE, a pious text in a mix of Latin and a Germanic dialect, provides an early example of a language that would later be recognized as Old French, distinctly different from existing Germanic languages. Interestingly, the phrase 'Pro Deo amur et pro christian poblo et nostro commun saluament' sounds more French today than Anglo-Saxon did back then. This transition laid the groundwork for the linguistic changes that would follow.
The Influence of French and Danish
It is a common misconception that Anglo-Saxon simply died out. In fact, the language evolved significantly between 900 and the 11th century. The arrival of the Normans in 1066 marked a turning point, as they took over the political and social elite of England, bringing with them a mixture of French and Flanders elements. However, they generally allowed the lower classes to continue speaking Anglo-Saxon, which was a hybrid language that had already absorbed Norman French.
Danish influence also played a significant role. The Danelaw, a region under Danish rule from the 9th century to the 11th century, saw a substantial influx of Danish syntax and vocabulary into the language, marking another layer of evolution. The incorporation of these linguistic elements from Norman French and Danish dialects meant that what emerged was not a continuation of Anglo-Saxon but a new form of the language, which we now refer to as Middle English. This period of evolution can be seen as an ongoing dialogue between languages, where elements of different linguistic traditions are merged and adapted.
The Academic and Cultural Shifts
Academics often treat English as the result of a liaison between a Norman knight and a Saxon barmaid. This metaphor captures the essence of how the language developed: through a mingling of different influences, producing a new linguistic offspring. The result was a flexible and adaptable language that could absorb and integrate new elements over time.
Posh school pupils had a ditty that went: 'Latin is a dead language / As dead as dead can be / First it killed the Romans / And now it’s killing me!' This can be reimagined in our modern context: 'English is a rogue language / As free as free can be / They say you can’t make stuff up! / But that’s not stopping me!' This verse illustrates the sentiment that English is not a fixed or formal language but one that is continually evolving and adapting.
The Modern Legacy of Anglo-Saxon
Today, English is the standard language of international shipping, aviation, and global communication, serving as the 'Lingua Franca' of the world. This means that the legacy of Anglo-Saxon lives on, embedded in the very structure and vocabulary of the world’s dominant language. Despite the changes over the centuries, the foundational aspects of Anglo-Saxon remain visible in many aspects of modern English.