Seminar 3

PHONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH VOCABULARY

Old English Phonological System

Plan

1. Discuss the phonetic processes in the OE vocalic system:

1. Independent changes:

a) development of monophthongs;

b) development of diphthongs

2. Assimilative changes:

a) breaking,

b) diphthongization;

b) mutation;

c) back mutation;

d) mutation before h

3. Discuss the following phonetic processes in the old English consonantal system:

• voicing and devoicing of fricatives, hardening, rhotacism;

• palatalization, assimilation, loss of consonants etc.

Objectives: The students will be able to

• define the main terms;

• comment on the diagramme “Tree climbing from PIE to English”;

• summarize phonological processes through the history of the English language;

• discuss issues on the theme.

Strategies for learning:

• Focus attention on the procedures of the plan.

• List a number of key terms by memory.

• List the most complicated problems.

• Review the main points of the lecture, follow the outline.

Points for discussion

1. What is the difference between phonetics and phonology?

2. What is each branching of the language family tree is characterized by ?

3. How many vowels were in Old English?

4. What syllable was under the accent ( stress ) in OE?

5. What quality of the vowel was a distinctive feature?

6. What are the most well-known phonetic laws in comparative studies?

7. Comment on the phonetic processes in the old English consonantal system.

8. Give the examples of palatalization, assimilation, loss of consonants, hardening, rhotacism, metathesis of r, gemination, contraction.

Practical Assignments

1. Complete the missing parts of the diagramme “Tree climbing from PIE to English”.

Proto-Indo-European

Germanic

East Germanic Northwest Germanic

Gothic West North

Ingvaeonic

Istvaeonic Ermionic

Anglo-Frisian Old Saxon

Frisian

Old

English Low German

English (ModE) Dutch High German

2 . Compile a table of the phonetic processes of OE vowels and consonants.

3. Define and comment on the phonetic processes which are illustrated by the following pairs of words.

fulian –fyllan (fill), bronhter – brōhter (brought), fimf- fif (five), tallian–tellan (tell), salian–sellan (sell), sēcan- sōcte-sōhte (seek-sought), tihan- tēon (accuse)

fohan-fōn (catch), tallian–tellan (tell), salian–sellan (sell), scearp –sharp, scield – shield, wascan –wash, ðridda- ðirda (third), hira – hiora (their),silufr – siolufr (silver), skal- sceal (shall), skāggwon - scēawian (to show), ahta > eahta (eight)

talde > tealde (told), herte >heorte (heart), melcan > meolcan (to milk), feh > feoh (cattle)

4. Exercise I-umlaut

In the following examples, the first word in each pair has an unmutated vowel while the second word is a related form with a mutated vowel. Supply the missing letter.

lārian – l_ ran (to learn, to teach)

hālian – h_lan (to heal)

ofstian –_fstan (to hurry)

dohter – d_hter (dative case of daughter)

wōpian – w_pan (to weep)

dōmian – d_man (to deem)

5. Exercise Breaking (fracture)

In the following examples, the first word in each pair has a vowel before breaking while the second word is a related form with some changes. Supply the missing letters.

hard > h ­_rd (hard)

arm > _rm (arm)

ahta > _hta (eight)

talde > t_lde (told)

warm > w_rm (warm)

herte >h_rte (heart)

melcan > m_lcan (to milk)

feh > f_h (cattle)

6. Exercise Diphthongization after palatal consonants

In the following examples, the first word in each pair has a vowel before diphthongization after palatal consonants while the second word is a related form with some changes. Supply the missing letters in both columns .

Sk_ l – sceal (shall)

skāggwon – sc_ wian (to show)

ᵹefan – ᵹ_fan (give)

ᵹ_f – ᵹeaf (gave),

ᵹæt – ᵹ_t (gate)

j_r – ᵹēar (year)

scort – sc_rt (short),

yong– ᵹ_nᵹ, (young)

7.Account for the difference between the vowels in OE þǽt, eal, monn, all going back to PG words with [a] (Gt: þata , manna, alls). Account for the interchange of vowels in OE dǽģe - dagas (NE day – Dat. Sg and Nom. Pl.); bǽđ - bađian (NE bath,bathe).

8.Explain the term “mutation” and innumeratr the changes referred to the mutations in Late PG and in Early OE. What do they all have in common?

9.Define the sound values of the letters f, đ, s and comment on the system of OE consonant phonemes: OE heofon, faran, ge-faran, hǽfde, offrung, ofer (NE heaven, fare, had, offering, over); ođđe, ođer, Norđ, đanne (‘or’, other, North, then); sæ, wisse, cēosan, cēas (NE sea, ‘knew’, choose, chose).

10.What consonant and vowel changes are illustrated by the following pairs of words:

Gt maiza	- ОЕ māra (NE more)
Gt kunþian	- ОE cyđan ('inform')
Gt dauþs	- OE dēad (NE dead)
Gt saljan	- OE sellan (NE sell)
OE þyncan	- OE þūhte (NE think.-thought)
OE mæġden	- mǽden (NE maiden)
Gt kinnus	- OE cinn (NS chin)
OHG isarn	- OE īren (NE iron)
Gt hausjan	- OE hīeren (NE hear)
O.Scand. skaft	- OE sceaft (NE shaft)

11. Text for analysis: “Cura Pastoralis”

Ælfred kyning hāteđ grētan Wærfeđ biscep his wordum luflīce ond freondlīce ond đe cỳđan hāte đæt mē com swīđe oft on gemynd, hwelce wiotan īu wǽron giond Angelcynn ǽgđer gē godcundra hāda gē worulgcundra; ond hū gesæliglīca tīda đā wǽron giond Angelcynn; … (But now there are very few learned men in England).

(Words in bold type are for phonological analysis).

12. Read the Grendel episode (lines 740-757) from Beowulf. Compare Old English with Present Day English from phonological point of view. Suggest your own translation.

he gefeng hraðe     forman siðe

He (Grendel) grabbed quickly first time slæpendne rinc,     slat unwearnum,

Sleeping warrior wounded suddenly bat banlocan,     blod edrum dranc,

Bit muscle blood vein drank synsnædum swealh;     sona hæfde

Chunks swallowed; soon had unlyfigendes     eal gefeormod,

Eaten all the dead men

fet ond folma.     Forð near ætstop,

foot and hand Onwards nearer stepped nam þa mid handa     higeþihtigne

seized then with hand courageous rinc on ræste,     ræhte ongean

warrior on bed reached towards feond mid folme;     he onfeng hraþe

fiend with hand he took hold of quickly inwitþancum     ond wið earm gesæt.

With evil intent and with arm bent

Sona þæt onfunde     fyrena hyrde

Soon that discovered evil guardian þæt he ne mette     middangeardes,

That he not met the world eorþan sceata,     on elran men

Earth’s surface on other men mundgripe maran. A mightier handgrasp.