NationStates Jolt Archive


Olde English

TaoTai
28-07-2005, 02:40
In the grandest honour of mine regione, I pledge to embarke on a threade composed of olde english. Thou shalt feel free to discuss that which pleases thine mind most exquisitly.
Fass
28-07-2005, 02:52
That's not old English. That's early modern English.

This is old English. (http://ang.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9afods%C3%ADde)
Grampus
28-07-2005, 02:57
That's not old English. That's early modern English.

It's not even that: its just contemporary English with a shotgun blasting of extra 'e's and a 'thou' or the like scattered hither and thon. Ghod's sake, there isn't even an 'yclept' in there. Kids today, I ask you...
Vetalia
28-07-2005, 03:03
That's not Old English, this is:

Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum,
þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon,
hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon.
Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum,
monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah,
egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð
feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad,
weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah,
oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra

I'm sure at least one person will know what this is from. :p
That was English with extra thous and whatnot.

Here's some EME:

Our Father which art in Heaven, look mercifully upon us Thy wretched children here in earth, and give us this grace that both Thy holy name among us, and also through the whole world may be sanctified and praised through the true and pure preaching of the word of God, and also that sinful manner of living, and all wicked and erroneous doctrines may cease
Lord-General Drache
28-07-2005, 03:06
That's not Old English, this is:



I'm sure at least one person will know what this is from. :p
That was English with extra thous and whatnot.

Here's some EME:

lol, I can read a bit of that Old English, and know what it's from. Love it, too.
Neo Rogolia
28-07-2005, 03:15
Verily I say unto thee: I got a new keyboard and mouse tonight!!! It's really cool, it's a Microsoft Wireless Comfort set!!!
Poliwanacraca
28-07-2005, 04:56
That's not Old English, this is:

I'm sure at least one person will know what this is from. :p


Oddly enough, the source of that quote can currently be found about six inches from my elbow, since I was looking something up in it earlier. So, yes, I knew what it was from. :)
Colodia
28-07-2005, 04:57
*clicks to wikipedia page*

WHO THE HELL SPEAKS/WRITES/TYPES THAT DAMNED LANGUAGE IN THIS DAY AND AGE?!!?!?!?!?!?!!?
Fass
28-07-2005, 05:03
*clicks to wikipedia page*

WHO THE HELL SPEAKS/WRITES/TYPES THAT DAMNED LANGUAGE IN THIS DAY AND AGE?!!?!?!?!?!?!!?

It's reminiscent of Icelandic and Old Norse, so it's not that awfully hard to understand it if you're from Scandinavia.
Grampus
28-07-2005, 05:06
That's not Old English, this is:



I'm sure at least one person will know what this is from. :p
That was English with extra thous and whatnot.

Even as someone who hasn't studied English any fuirther back than Chaucer I was able to make a pretty damn good guess what that was from and get it right: did Old English actually only have one single major work?
Lord-General Drache
28-07-2005, 05:08
It's reminiscent of Icelandic and Old Norse, so it's not that awfully hard to understand it if your from Scandinavia.

I've taken German for a number of years, and I can understand bits and pieces of it, from that.
Poliwanacraca
28-07-2005, 05:11
*clicks to wikipedia page*

WHO THE HELL SPEAKS/WRITES/TYPES THAT DAMNED LANGUAGE IN THIS DAY AND AGE?!!?!?!?!?!?!!?

The only people I know who can speak/write/type Old or Middle English remotely fluently are linguistics professors and students, but a fair number of dabblers like me have studied at least a little of one or both - enough to recognize the beginning of the most famous work in Old English, anyway.

Linguistics is fun! :D
Mole Patrol
28-07-2005, 05:39
This is old English. (http://ang.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9afods%C3%ADde)
No this (http://www.40ozmaltliquor.com/oe800.jpg) is Old English! :D
Niccolo Medici
28-07-2005, 05:50
No this (http://www.40ozmaltliquor.com/oe800.jpg) is Old English! :D

Pass me some of that dead language, would you please? I have a taste for the ancient tounges.
Mistme
28-07-2005, 05:50
dang.
I thought the thread would be about the video making group:
http://www.oldeenglish.org/
Nimharamafala
28-07-2005, 06:00
Even as someone who hasn't studied English any fuirther back than Chaucer I was able to make a pretty damn good guess what that was from and get it right: did Old English actually only have one single major work?

Wait.... is it Beowolf?

I'm going to look awfully stupid if I get that wrong. Which I'm sure I did.
Lord-General Drache
28-07-2005, 06:03
Wait.... is it Beowolf?

I'm going to look awfully stupid if I get that wrong. Which I'm sure I did.

No, no, you're right. It's Beowulf.
Nimharamafala
28-07-2005, 06:15
No, no, you're right. It's Beowulf.

Oh no kidding, what luck. I've never studied Old English, but I'd like to eventually. I'm horrible at languages, but I like the literary/historical backgroud. Does that make the language worth learning do you think?
Poliwanacraca
28-07-2005, 06:28
Oh no kidding, what luck. I've never studied Old English, but I'd like to eventually. I'm horrible at languages, but I like the literary/historical backgroud. Does that make the language worth learning do you think?

Every language is worth learning! :p

More seriously, I think studying the evolution of language is one of the best and most interesting ways to study either history or literature, and a fantastic way to study both at once. Lots of colleges offer courses in medieval literature, which is a good way to start digging into Middle English. Old English can be trickier to find outside of graduate programs, but it's probably worth the effort if you're interested.
Nimharamafala
28-07-2005, 06:37
Every language is worth learning! :p

More seriously, I think studying the evolution of language is one of the best and most interesting ways to study either history or literature, and a fantastic way to study both at once. Lots of colleges offer courses in medieval literature, which is a good way to start digging into Middle English. Old English can be trickier to find outside of graduate programs, but it's probably worth the effort if you're interested.

Yeah, that sounds pretty good to be honest. I take Latin now, and I'm terrible at it, but I love the connections. Now I'd really like to continue and find English's Germanic roots. I guess I'll have to graduate from highschool before I can really study it though, its' not one of those learn from a book and a dictionary things.
Vaitupu
28-07-2005, 07:14
This (http://www.wholesalewarehousesupply.com/images/240/CREC1515.JPG) is old english


Oh Beowulf, how I loathe thee