Old English is a member of the Germanic family of the Indo-European languages. It is the earliest form of the English language. It was written and spoken in England up to approximately 1150 CE. Its written records include the earliest known poems in the English language and a considerable body of prose.
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Wikipedia article on the characteristics of alliterative verse and the use of alliteration in Old English, Middle English, Old Norse, Old Saxon, and Old High German poetry.
An exposition of Old English glosses and glossaries by Patrizia Lendinara.
Shows the form, name, and modern English equivalent of each letter in the runic alphabet. Also includes a sample runic text, the equivalent text in the Old English alphabet, and a modern English translation. From the Omniglot site.
Gives a detailed account of runes, including a table that summarizes information about each rune, a history of runes, a description of the role of runes in Anglo-Saxon culture, and other topics. From Wikipedia.
Explains the metrical features common to all Old English poetry. Includes exercises and answers, a glossary of terms, and a bibliography. By Alaric Hall and Sheryl McDonald.
[PDF]
Displays Old English, Middle English, and Modern English versions of each verse in Luke 2:1-19.
Studies the development of Old English and Middle English. Covers grammar, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and dialects.
Discusses the evolution of English toward a spoken and written standard and shows the role that King Alfred played in this process. By Christopher Mulvey.
Wikipedia article on the history of the English language. Covers Proto-English, Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English and gives examples of writing from each stage. Each section of the article contains a link to a full Wikipedia article on the given stage.
Describes the development of the English language from pre-history to the present. In addition to Old English, covers the Indo-European language family, the Germanic branch of this family, the Celts and Romans, Middle English, early modern English, late modern English, and English today.
A study of the history of English in each of its periods, including the Old English period. By Albert C. Baugh and Thomas Cable.
Traces the evolution of Old English during the centuries it was in use. By David Crystal. From the British Library.
Wikipedia article on the Old English language. Covers the history of Old English, word borrowings, dialects, sound system, grammar, alphabets, and other topics. Includes examples of the language taken from Old English literature.
Shows the form, pronunciation, and Modern English equivalent of each letter in the Old English alphabet. Includes a sample text from an Old English manuscript, a transcription of the text, and a modern English translation of the text. Also includes several videos. From the Omniglot site.
Merriam-Webster Online article uses a passage from Aelfric's Homily on St. Gregory to show the similarities and differences between Old English and Modern English. Also compares Middle English to Modern English and describes the Germanic roots of Old English.
An introduction to Old English glossaries. Covers the origin and purpose of Old English glossaries, describes the different types of glossaries, and explains their relationship to later dictionaries. Includes bibliography. By Antonette diPaolo Healey.
Provides lists of Old English glosses that appear in manuscripts of Latin works by Aldhelm, Bede, Prudentius and other authors (one list for each manuscript). Each list shows Latin words and equivalent Old English words side by side. Includes introduction and notes. By Herbert Dean Meritt.
Shows how J.R.R. Tolkien used Old English words to name people, places, and things in his famous trilogy. By Dave Wilton.
An introduction to the metrical features shared by all Old English poems. By Daniel Paul O'Donnell.
A video that shows how to pronounce the letters of the Old English alphabet.
Provides two search tools. One finds all occurrences of a word or words in the Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records (ASPR). The other finds all occurrences of a word or words in the entire Old English corpus.
An introduction to the key features of Old English. Covers the historical context, distinguishing features of Old English, the beginning of Old English, the end of Old English, dialects, verbs, derivation of large groups of words from the same base words, and sound changes.
Gives Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English versions of Luke 15:11-32 and allows side-by-side comparisons of different versions.
Explains the poetic principles and techniques employed in Old English and Middle English poetry. Covers the distinctive features of Old English verse, the transition from Old English to Middle English poetic forms, foreign influences on Middle English poetry, and the alliterative revival.
A study of the history of English in each of its periods, including the Old English period. By Albert C. Baugh and Thomas Cable.
An exposition of Old English glosses and glossaries by Patrizia Lendinara.
Provides lists of Old English glosses that appear in manuscripts of Latin works by Aldhelm, Bede, Prudentius and other authors (one list for each manuscript). Each list shows Latin words and equivalent Old English words side by side. Includes introduction and notes. By Herbert Dean Meritt.
Discusses the evolution of English toward a spoken and written standard and shows the role that King Alfred played in this process. By Christopher Mulvey.
Gives Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English versions of Luke 15:11-32 and allows side-by-side comparisons of different versions.
An introduction to the key features of Old English. Covers the historical context, distinguishing features of Old English, the beginning of Old English, the end of Old English, dialects, verbs, derivation of large groups of words from the same base words, and sound changes.
Wikipedia article on the characteristics of alliterative verse and the use of alliteration in Old English, Middle English, Old Norse, Old Saxon, and Old High German poetry.
Wikipedia article on the history of the English language. Covers Proto-English, Old English, Middle English, Early Modern English, and Modern English and gives examples of writing from each stage. Each section of the article contains a link to a full Wikipedia article on the given stage.
Explains the poetic principles and techniques employed in Old English and Middle English poetry. Covers the distinctive features of Old English verse, the transition from Old English to Middle English poetic forms, foreign influences on Middle English poetry, and the alliterative revival.
An introduction to Old English glossaries. Covers the origin and purpose of Old English glossaries, describes the different types of glossaries, and explains their relationship to later dictionaries. Includes bibliography. By Antonette diPaolo Healey.
Traces the evolution of Old English during the centuries it was in use. By David Crystal. From the British Library.
Shows the form, name, and modern English equivalent of each letter in the runic alphabet. Also includes a sample runic text, the equivalent text in the Old English alphabet, and a modern English translation. From the Omniglot site.
An introduction to the metrical features shared by all Old English poems. By Daniel Paul O'Donnell.
Describes the development of the English language from pre-history to the present. In addition to Old English, covers the Indo-European language family, the Germanic branch of this family, the Celts and Romans, Middle English, early modern English, late modern English, and English today.
Shows the form, pronunciation, and Modern English equivalent of each letter in the Old English alphabet. Includes a sample text from an Old English manuscript, a transcription of the text, and a modern English translation of the text. Also includes several videos. From the Omniglot site.
Shows how J.R.R. Tolkien used Old English words to name people, places, and things in his famous trilogy. By Dave Wilton.
Explains the metrical features common to all Old English poetry. Includes exercises and answers, a glossary of terms, and a bibliography. By Alaric Hall and Sheryl McDonald.
[PDF]
Wikipedia article on the Old English language. Covers the history of Old English, word borrowings, dialects, sound system, grammar, alphabets, and other topics. Includes examples of the language taken from Old English literature.
A video that shows how to pronounce the letters of the Old English alphabet.
Gives a detailed account of runes, including a table that summarizes information about each rune, a history of runes, a description of the role of runes in Anglo-Saxon culture, and other topics. From Wikipedia.
Displays Old English, Middle English, and Modern English versions of each verse in Luke 2:1-19.
Merriam-Webster Online article uses a passage from Aelfric's Homily on St. Gregory to show the similarities and differences between Old English and Modern English. Also compares Middle English to Modern English and describes the Germanic roots of Old English.
Studies the development of Old English and Middle English. Covers grammar, pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and dialects.
Provides two search tools. One finds all occurrences of a word or words in the Anglo-Saxon Poetic Records (ASPR). The other finds all occurrences of a word or words in the entire Old English corpus.
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