Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: RegulatorCountry; SunkenCiv; All

Someone else had the right idea with a Latin/English book. Latin was used by priests and a few literate people throughout Europe. With that you could find refuge in a monastery or nunnery until you learned the local language. I think in England they had Old Norse. I have a 15th century fascimile of a Spanish/English reader. In Spain they have had an academy for centuries to keep the language “pure”. Since I am fairly fluent in Spanish, it was actually easier to read and understand the Spanish than the English.


192 posted on 10/14/2012 10:09:41 PM PDT by gleeaikin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies ]


To: gleeaikin

“I think in England they had Old Norse.”

In 742 it would have been Olde English, since the Norse first raided Lindisfarne (north east England) about 793.

Not to nit pick.

Old English descended from the Anglo-Saxons-Frisians-Jutes who had been going from the continent to Britain since around 500.

The Viking raiders and settlers came later.

Our modern English is the product of old English, Old Norse, Norman French, Latin, Gaelic, etc.

And a fine language it is, with a very large vocabulary making for precise and economic writing and speaking.


202 posted on 10/14/2012 11:00:38 PM PDT by truth_seeker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 192 | View Replies ]

To: gleeaikin

Good idea! Or, become fluent in Latin (and Spanish) before going.


205 posted on 10/15/2012 4:00:39 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 192 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson