Bruce Mitchell (1) (1920–2010)
Author of A Guide to Old English
For other authors named Bruce Mitchell, see the disambiguation page.
Works by Bruce Mitchell
Beowulf repunctuated 1 copy
Associated Works
Language form and linguistic variation : papers dedicated to Angus McIntosh (1982) — Contributor — 4 copies
History of Englishes : new methods and interpretations in historical linguistics (1992) — Contributor — 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Mitchell, Raymond Bruce
- Birthdate
- 1920-01-08
- Date of death
- 2010-01-30
- Gender
- male
- Nationality
- Australia
- Birthplace
- Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
- Place of death
- Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia - Education
- University of Melbourne ( B.A. Arts ∙ 1940)
University of Melbourne (M.A. English Language and Literature) (1948)
University of Melbourne (M.A. Comparative Philology) (1952)
University of Oxford (Merton College) (Ph.D.) (1959)
University of Oxford (D.Litt) (1986) - Occupations
- philologist
manager in printing company
lecturer
academic
intelligence officer, Australian Imperial Forces
gardener (show all 8)
railway porter
builder's labourer - Relationships
- Miller, Mollie (wife)
Tolkien, J. R. R. (academic supervisor)
Jones, Terry (student) - Organizations
- St. Edmund's Hall, University of Oxford
- Awards and honors
- Fellow Emeritus of St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford
Sir Israel Gollancz Prize (1987)
Members
Reviews
Awards
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 11
- Also by
- 4
- Members
- 1,176
- Popularity
- #21,865
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 5
- ISBNs
- 73
- Languages
- 2
So a quick history lesson.
1st century: Romans came to Britannia and subjugated Celts:
-> Romans left minimal impact on the language and left at end of 4th century CE.
4th-5th century, Roman Empire collapses:
-> Latin becomes exclusive language of priesthood. Commoners stop using it and it dies.
6th century: Saxons invade and exterminated the Celts (Except for Wales/Cornwall):
-> Language of Brittania becomes Saxon
8th century: Vikings started raiding and eventually invade:
-> Major influence of Norse words on English language
11th century Normans (Viking/French tribe) invade:
Upper classes use French until the 15th century, then revert to English. Impact on the language is less than Vikings.
17th Century +: Britain becomes major trading empire:
-> Influence on the language from all corners of the earth - Amerindian, European, African, Indian, and East Asia.
Learning Old English is fine if you like that kind of thing. But there is no justification for learning it over say - ancient Norse. It is a dead language. Let it be so for the majority. Of course, Norman French had a greater major impact on the English language as we know it today, far greater I would argue than influence of Norse words on English. Contrast Chaucer with Beowulf. I can read and more or less understand Chaucer littered with words of French origin but the Anglo Saxon English of Beowulf? Not a chance.… (more)