Old Norse influences in the transition from Old English into Middle English and its repercussions on modern english

Abstract

This study refers to the scandinavian influences on the English language, which involve essentially linguistic aspects, but, also culture. The history of English language is directly linked to the people who inhabited the current English territory and to the other cultures that the English peoples had contact. In this way, it will be made the contextualization of the time and the historical space to which this study refers, namely, the Viking Age in England. Through a bibliographical research that encompasses many theories and phenomena related to the Old Norse influences on the English language, the focus of this work will on analyze and reflect about the transition from Old English to Middle English, denoting the impact caused by contact with Old Norse. However, although Scandinavian presence in England and their influences on language and culture are significant, such historical episode is overshadowed by Roman and French interferences that have shown greater impact on continental politics. Therefore, another objective of this study is to value and recognize the importance of Scandinavian permanence in England in what concerns the linguistic and cultural consequences from that period.