Foreign Influences on Old English

Abstract

In the following chapters I am going to concentrate on how Old English vocabulary was shaped through the influence of Latin, Scandinavian and Celtic. The Latin language influenced English in three waves. The words borrowed in these periods differ in their types and character. Latin had the greatest effect on Old English. Old Norse – the language of the Vikings – also brought important changes. Here, we can also talk about a long period of exposure. Finally, I will look at the numerous words that died out from Old English by analysing Luke’s Gospel. First, I am going to give the background and the origin of English.