Extent of the Old Norse language in historic England

Abstract The purpose of this essay has been to examine the connection between the established viking-stages to the development of the English language. The purpose of the essay has been to see linguistic changes in the historical English language linked to old Norse encounters. The old Norse linguistic influences are based on cultural encounters that took place in England from about 787 to 1042. These are divided into three different stages, the raiding stage (787-850), the settlement stage (850-878) and (political) assimilation- stage (878- 1042). By analyzing texts from old English, middle English and early modern English, the essay aimed to investigate the extent to which old Norse has influenced the English language, what changes can be interpreted, and their connection to the three different stages. The research questions follow accordingly; What old Norse elements can be found in the texts? What linguistic differences can be discerned among the texts? and Which stage (s) are represented in the old Norse linguistic influence in the texts? Results show a varying frequency, partly due to the difficulties with the similarities between the languages, in particular the earlier texts in OE. An increase in ME and then a slight decrease in EME. This has partly to do with regional differences and influences from western Europe during the renaissance and the enlightenment. Following, linguistic differences occur through an increase in word classes, from place names to verbs and adjectives. Linguistic differences between the texts are also due to their geographical origin, where areas that have been part of Danelaw have more words that originate from old Norse. Adding on, the raiding stage has had less linguistic impact with an explanation that raidings were time limited and had a negative connotation for the English population during the 700s-800s. The settlement stage emerged as the main stage that has had the most influence on the development of the language, this is explained by the importance of the cultural encounter in the form of settlement, trade and relations between peoples. The assimilation stage has had a greater political influence, but since the regional differences are so representative, it seems to indicate that the Old Norse language was abandoned in favor of the institutional language in the country