Old English

An up-to-date linguistic and critical approach distinguishes this text which introduces students to written English of the 7th through 11th c. The first part provides a coordinated treatment of the grammar--phonology morphology syntax and lexicon. The second part offers a substantial selection of carefully edited and annotated texts from Old English literature together with a comprehensive glossary the entries for which are conveniently keyed to the texts and cross-referenced to variant forms of head-words. Old English Language As in the best modern foreign language texts the first part of this book emphasizes a sense of pattern and the cumulative acquisition of language elements rather than the memorization required by traditional reference grammars.... Students are encouraged to see the relationship between words in Old English and their modern reflexes in order to facilitate their rapid acquisition of Old English vocabulary. Also more than ordinary attention is paid to the processes of word formation and combination as well as to the linguistic antecedents of Old English. Each chapter reinforces the presentation of grammar and syntax with short readings.... In the earlier chapters the readings are mostly from the Old English translation of the Gospels.... In the later chapters the readings make up a continuing narrative the story of Apollonius of Tyre. Old English Prose and Poetry ...Included are two selections from Aelfric Three Riddles The Wife''s Lament Wulfstan''s De falsis Diis Vainglory Of the Phoenix The Whale Bede''s Caedmon two parts of Genesis A and selections from Beowulf and Christ; for three of the Old English texts related texts in Latin are provided. The glossary for these texts is exhaustive and analytical. Facsimile pages from Old English manuscripts offer students the opportunity to apply their acquired knowledge to original texts. A topical up-to-date bibliography concludes the volume.