1. OE synthetic language possessed on a system of grammat. forms could indicate the conection between words.
2. syntax was relatively simple. Coordination of clauses prevailed over subordination complicated syntactic construction were rare.
3. noun pattern; pronoun + noun, adj, numer, noun. Agreed with the noun in gender, number, case. Noun + noun – Gen case. Eg: hwα‾les bān – whale’s bone.
4. verb pattern: verb + noun, pronoun in Oblique case, preposit, adverbs. Eg: bring þa þing (bring those things).
5. simple sentence – the contrast between the parts of sentence – shown by the form of the words; The word order was relatively free.
6. could be several negation. Negative particle NE + other words (nāht / nōht).
7. complete sentences:
a. coordinate clauses – AND (conj);
b. repetition of connectives at the head of each cl-s (þa…þa – then…then);
c. in attribute cl-s main connective particle þē.
d. þæt – used to introduce object cl-s, adverbial cl-s. Eg: oð ðæt()until
8. word order-relatively free. The position of words-determined by logical stylistic factors. Depend on the communicative type of the sent-ce. If the sent-ce began with an adverb.modifier,the word order inverted.
e.g.Hēr on þyssum зēare fōr sē micla here(in this year went that big army).
45. Meaning&use of cases in OE.
The OE noun had 4 cases:Nom.,Gen.,Dat.,Acc.
In most declansions 213 forms were homonymous. The OE had 2 categories:-number
-case(+gender)
1. Nom.c. can be defined as the case of active agent,it was the case of the subject. Mainly used with verbs denoting activity.
2. Gen.c. – case of nouns&pron. serving as an attr. to other nouns;
- meaning:possessive meaning, meaning of origin.
3. Dat.c. – used with prepositions (as an indirect personal obj.(to inform him)
- could convey an instrumental meaning(haild with stones)
4. Acc.c. – indicate the passive obj. of a state
- relationship to a verb.
French loans in English.
1. The contact between English and French was different;
2. The French was the language of upper classes. the English – common people (rude);
3. French belongs to the group of Romanic languages;
4. 12 – 14th cent.
5. French influence was more marked in the South and South- East.
6. many synonyms. Eg: language (Fr) – tongue (Eng);