DIALECTICAL VARIATIONS OF
OLD ENGLISH
By: Hrudya Shajan
Donna Susan
Abraham
Grace Kalladayil Joy
J.Gowrinandana
Ivy Jose
Gowri Krishna R
INTRODUCTION
• The surviving Old English documents are
traditionally attributed to four different
major dialects.
• Kentish (in the south-east), West Saxon
(in the south-west), Mercian (in the
midland territories of Mercia), and
Northumbrian (in the north).
Di
Dialectical Variations of Old English
Mercian Dialect
• Mercian is a dialect derived from the
speech of Southern Angles and spoken
chiefly in the kingdom of Mercia, that is the
central region from the Thames to the
Humber.
• The Mercian and Northumbrian together
are often known as Anglian
• The letters b, d, g, l, m, n, p, q, s, t, v, w
and z behave like Modern English.
c is pronounced as ch in cheese
c is always pronounced hard like cat never soft like
cell
ae as the a man
a- as aah
e- like ay in bay
e like “e” in bed
i- like ee in creek
i as in bin
Nouns have three genders masculine, feminine
and neuter
Four cases nominative, accusative, dative and
genitive
,
Nouns
Hervest : The season of autumn
Heu : Colour
Hi-ne : A household of servants
La-te : Fact of being late
Mercian was used by the writer and philologist
J. R. R Tolkien in his fictional Rohirric language
The old English matryology is a collection of over 230
hagiographies(The writing of the lives of saints) written
by someone in the Mercian dialect
West Saxon Dialect
SHAPERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Wessex Dialect (around 850 AD)
Dialect spoken in Wessex kingdom.
Two different dialects- Early West
Saxon and Late West Saxon.
Strongest dialects in Old English
manuscript writing.
Early West Saxon
The Early West Saxon dialect, spoken from
the 6th to 9th centuries, was a pivotal form
of Old English.
Language spoken by the king Alfred the
Great.
Notable works like “Beowulf”, “Caedmon’s
Hymn”, and “The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle”
exemplify this dialect.
Early West Saxon laid the groundwork for
classical Old English, shaping the linguistic
landscape of Anglo-Saxon England.
Late West Saxon (10th and 11th cen.)
First standardized written
English.
Also known as Winchester
standard and classical old
English.
Spoken in the South and West
around the monastery of
Winchester.
Notable works are Here are
some notable poems written in
Late West Saxon dialect : The
Wanderer, The Battle of Maldon,
Great Vowel Shift (GVS)
Change in pronunciation of English vowels that
occured during the 14th and 16th centuries.
Transformed West Saxon vowels resulting in modern
English pronunciation.
Northumbrian Dialect
FORGOTTEN ROOTS OF OLD ENGLISH
Main Points
Emerged in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria
Distinct from other old english dialects due to it’s
unique blend of influences.
Changes in linguistics:
1. Vocabulary – “bairn” instead of “child”
2. Pronunciation – “u” instead of “o”; eg:- hus instead of
hos
3. Grammar – “thou and “thee”
4. Spelling – “c” instead of “ch” ; eg:- cold instead of child
5. Colours – Earthly tones like green and brown.
6. Font – Times New Roman
Northumbrian texts – Lindisfarne Gospels (8th cen)
The Ruthwell Cross (8th cen)
N.V.Glosses (9th cen)
CONCLUSION
As we look back on the various Old English dialects, it’s clear that the
linguistic landscape of early England was incredibly diverse. The Mercian
dialect stretched far, covering a vast territory, from the borders of East
Anglia to the limits of Wales, and from Staffordshire to the counties. Its
widespread nature made it a significant dialect in early English history.
The Kentish dialect, though more localized, left behind a legacy in the form of
early law texts from kings like Hlothere and Eadric. However, much of what
we have today has been altered, so it’s difficult to capture the true essence of
the original Kentish language that was spread across the centuries of
English literature and communication.
• The Northumbrian dialect, once a cultural and literary powerhouse in
the 8th century, suffered from Viking invasions, leading to a decline in
its influence. However, it left a mark on the English language, with its
unique humor and rich history.
• Finally, West Saxon, and specifically Late West Saxon, rose to become
the first standardized written
language in England. Its influence is undeniable, from King Alfred’s
educational reforms to its use in some of the most important Old
English works, like Beowulf. This dialect, with its foundations in
Winchester, paved the way for English as a literary and
administrative language.
• In sum, the Old English dialects tell a story not just of linguistic
variety but also of shifting power, culture, and history. Together, they
form the roots of the language we speak today, shaping
THANK YOU
