Old English vs. Middle English

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Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

Traditional West-Saxon spelling was becoming archaic and artificial

Confusion of the endings –an, -on, -en, -um

Ic wille on þǽm hors hám rídan - verb infinitive

I want to ride home on that horse 

Wé ridon tó wuda - past plural We rode to the wood

Ic wille, þæt gé hám ríden – present subjunctive

I want you (pl) to ride home (I want that you ride ...)

Hé hæfð þæt hors swíðe geriden - past participle

We have ridden the horse hard

Wé ridon on hwítum horsum - dative plural

We rode on white horses

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Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

Ic wille on þǽm hors hám rídan - verb infinitive

I want to ride home on that horse 

Wé ridan tó wuda - past plural We rode to the wood

Ic wille, þæt gé hám rídan – present subjunctive

I want you (pl) to ride home (I want that you ride ...)

Hé hæfð þæt hors swíðe geridan - past participle

We have ridden the horse hard

Wé ridan on hwítan horsan - dative plural

We rode on white horses

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Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

1053On þisum geare wæs se cyning on Winceastre on Eastran

Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

Translation of this and the next slides can be found at http://www.hi.is/~peturk/KENNSLA/11/texts/thisyear.html

1081On þisum geare se cyng lædde fyrde in to Weala

Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

1096On þison geare heold se cyng Wilelm his hired to Xpes mæssan on Windlesoran

Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

1122On þis geare wæs se king Heanri on Cristes mæssan on Northwic

Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

1137Ðis gear for þe king Stephne ofer sæ to Normandi

Examples of grammatical mistakes in manuscripts towards the end of the Old English period

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle:

800ic, mec, me, mín

1300ich me mine

1400I me mi

2000I me my

þú, þec, þe, þín þow þe þine thou thee thi thou thee thy

hé hine him his he him his he him his he him his

héo hie hire hire ho hir hir scho hir she her her

hit hit him his hit hit him his it it his it it its

wé ús úre ús we us ure we us oure we us our

gé éow éowe éow ye yow yowre ye you your you you your

hí hí hira him hr hir him they him hire they them their

Changes in personal pronouns

c. 959

Fæder ure þu þe eart on heofonum,Sy þin nama gehalgodTobecume þin ricegewurþe ðin willaon eorðan swa swa on heofonum. Urne gedæghwamlican hlaf us syle

todæg,and forgyf us ure gyltasswa swa we forgyfað urum

gyltendum.And ne gelæd þu us on costnungeac alys us of yfele.Soþlice .

c 1350

Oure fadir that art in heuenes,yhalewid be þi name;þi kyngdoom come to;be þi wille don,in erþe as in hevene.Yeve to us þis dai oure dayliiche

breed and foryeyve to us oure dettis,as we foryeuen to oure dettouris;

and lede uu not in to temptaciounbut delyvere us fro yvel.Amen.