Research Catalog

Title

A guide to Old English / Bruce Mitchell and Fred C. Robinson.

Author

Mitchell, Bruce, 1920-2010

Publication

Malden, MA : Blackwell Pub., 2007.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Robinson, Fred C.

Description

xvi, 432 p. : ill.; 23 cm.

Summary

"This updated seventh edition retains the structure and style of the previous editions, and includes two new texts - the Cotton Gnomes and Wulfstan's Sermo Lupi ad Anglos - and two new appendices: a List of Linguistic Terms Used in this Book and The Moods of Old English." "The book is composed of two parts. Part One presents an introduction to the Old English language, including orthography and pronunciation, inflexions, word formation, and an authoritative section on syntax. This is followed by an introduction to Anglo-Saxon studies, which discusses language, literature, history, archaeology, and ways of life. Sound-changes are treated as they become relevant in understanding apparent irregularities in inflexion. Part Two contains prose and verse texts, most of them complete, which fully reveal the range that Old English offers in subject matter, style, and emotional intensity. Full explanatory notes accompany all texts, and a detailed glossary is provided." "The new edition of this Guide is an essential reference for anyone wanting to gain a greater understanding and enjoyment of the language and literature of the Anglo-Saxons."--Jacket.

Subject

• 450-1100
• English language > Old English, ca. 450-1100 > Grammar
• English language > Old English, ca. 450-1100 > Readers
• English philology > Old English, ca. 450-1100 > Handbooks, manuals, etc
• Oudengels
• Filologie
• English language > Old English, ca. 450-1100 > Grammar
• English language > Old English, ca. 450-1100 > Readers

Genre/Form

• Handbooks and manuals
• Readers (Publications)

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Foreword to the Sixth Edition -- Foreword to the Seventh Edition -- Map of Anglo-Saxon England -- Abbreviations and Symbols -- How to Use this Guide -- Part I: -- 1. Preliminary Remarks on the Language -- 2. Orthography and Pronunciation -- i. Orthography -- ii. Stress -- iii. Vowels -- iv. Diphthongs -- v. Consonants -- 3. Inflexions -- Introduction -- i. Pronouns -- ii. Nouns and Sound-Changes Relevant to Them: -- Weak Nouns -- Some Technical Terms -- Strong Nouns like st n (Masc.) and scip (Neut.) -- Masculine and Neuter Nouns in -e -- Strong Feminine Nouns -- i-Mutation -- Nouns Affected by i-Mutation -- u-Nouns -- iii. Adjectives: -- Introduction -- Weak Declension -- Strong Declension -- Stem Changes in Adjectives -- Comparison of Adjectives -- iv. Observations on Noun, Adjective, and Pronoun Declensions -- v. Numerals -- vi. Strong Verbs and Sound-Changes Relevant to Them: -- Introduction -- Principal Parts of the Strong Verbs -- Breaking -- Influence of Initial, sc, --^
• Influence of Nasals -- Summary of the Strong Verbs of Class III -- The Effects of Sound-Changes on Other Strong Verbs -- Strong Verbs of Class VII -- Grimm's Law and Verner's Law -- Conjugation of the Strong Verb -- vii. Weak Verbs and Sound-Changes Relevant to Them: -- Introduction -- Class 1 -- Class 2 -- Class 3 -- viii. Anomalous Verbs: -- B on -- D n and g n -- Willan -- Preterite-Present Verbs -- ix. Is a Verb Strong or Weak? To which Class does it Belong? -- x. Adverbs: -- Formation -- Comparison -- 4. Word Formation -- Introduction -- i. Compounding -- ii. The Addition of Affixes: -- Prefixes -- Suffixes -- 5. Syntax -- Introduction -- i. Word-Order -- ii. Sentence Structure: -- Recapitulation and Anticipation -- The Splitting of Heavy Groups -- Correlation -- iii. Noun Classes: -- Introduction -- Dependent Statements and Desires -- Dependent Questions -- The Accusative and Infinitive -- iv. Adjective Clauses: -- Definite Adjective Clauses -- Indefinite Adjective Clauses --^
• Mood -- v. Adverb Clauses: -- Introduction -- Non-Prepositional Conjunctions -- Prepositional Conjunctions -- An Exercise in Analysis -- Clauses of Place -- Clauses of Time -- Clauses of Purpose and Result -- Causal Clauses -- Clauses of Comparison -- Clauses of Concession -- Clauses of Condition -- Adverb Clauses Expressing Other Relationships -- Other Ways of Expressing Adverbial Relationships -- vi. Parataxis: -- Introduction -- List of Conjunctions and Adverbs Commonly Used -- Parataxis without Conjunctions -- Some Special Idioms -- vii. Concord: -- 1. Nouns, Pronouns and their Modifiers -- 2. Pronouns and their Antecedents -- 3. Subject and Verb -- viii. The Uses of the Cases: -- Nominative -- Accusative -- Genitive -- Dative -- Instrumental -- ix. Articles, Pronouns, and Numerals: -- Articles and Pronouns -- Numerals -- x. Verbs: -- The Uses of the Present and Preterite Tenses -- The Resolved Tenses: -- Introduction -- The Verb 'to have' as an Auxiliary --^
• The Verb 'to be' as an Auxiliary.

ISBN

• 1405146907 (pbk. : alk. paper)
• 9781405146906 (pbk. : alk. paper)

LCCN

^^2006017164

OCLC

• 69332195
• SCSB-10669897

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library