What was the affect of the anglo-saxon settlement on language?

Question

The anglo-saxon settlement in the 5th and 6th centuries, what was the influence of the event on language? Morphologically, syntactically, phonologically?

thanks :)

Answer 1

Interesting question.  DNA research suggests that the Anglo-Saxons were a relatively small influx, and so-called Anglo-Saxon split off its Germanic roots much earlier than 400 AD, so modern researchers have postulated that 'Belgic', spoken by the Britons in S and E Britain, was a Germanic language - proto-anglo-saxon.

Answer 2

It doesn't matter....the invasion by the Normans in 1066 was the beginning of middle English, and most language before that was unrecorded. Not to mention the UK was invaded by so many different people that the Anglo's and the Saxon's had as much impact as the Danes.

Answer 3

Blueink is quite incorrect. Anglo-Saxon had and remains to have a profound effect on the English language. It is one of the myths perpetrated by the Anglo-Norman ruling classes that the use of French transmuted into Middle English wiped out Anglo-Saxon. In fact, what has happened in English is that one can often say the same thing intwo different ways - one in normal speech, one in more pompous language. Just one example. You and I probably 'walk' down the street, using a word originally  from Old English 'wealcan' to roll, revolve. However, the policeman of funny stories stands up in Court, takes the oath holding the testament aloft and begins his evidence saying 'I was "proceeding" down the street' using a word from the French procéder, Latin procedere. There are many similar examples. Usually the longer the word, the more likely it is to have derived from a Latin/French root, the shorter, more down to earth, Anglo Saxon/German. I'm old enough to have to gone to school when Latin was taught and well remember asking 'why do we learn this, why isn't Anglo Saxon offered instead' 'Because A-E has had no effect on our language' was the answer. Total poppycock. If our language was Latin/French dervived it would look and sound like the Romance languages - French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. For more information try and get hold of Peter Ackroyd's book 'Albion' which is a long discussion of the Anglo-Saxon influence not only on language, but our culture generally