At 01:29 6/26/02, Winsor Crosby wondered:
I wonder why no one ever worries about Saxon endings, cases, or word order
in a language that is more Germanic than Latin?
--
Winsor Crosby
Long Beach, California
It was an event that occurred on Caldbec Hill which overlooks Hastings,
England. Harold II, Saxon King of England met William the Conquerer (Duke
of Normandy) Friday, October 13th, 1066, and the battle was enjoined the
next day after Harold II refused terms from the Normans. Had it not been
for a desperate forced march of 270 miles from having just defeated the
Danes, Harold II might have had a better chance.
Thus began the "romanticizing" of Anglo-Saxon, a Germanic based language,
with Latin and French. Indeed, French was the official language of the
English Crown and Court for some time (read the motto on the British Coat
of Arms). And that's why more attention is paid to proper Latin usage than
Anglo-Saxon (or other Germanic roots). Ever wonder why English is among
the most difficult of languages? Its lexical is a potpourri of Germanic
and Latin based words, heavily seasoned in places with Greek, and lightly
seasoned with a hodge-podge of everything else.
-- John
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|