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Universidad NacionalUniversidad Nacional

Chorotega`s Head Office

Campus Liberia

Diacrony of a Second LanguageDiacrony of a Second Language

Professor: Msc. David Villalobos Betancourt

Student: Randall Alvarado Navarro Navarro

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Old English vs GermanOld English vs German

Old English:Old English: itit is an early form of theis an early form of theEnglish language that was spoken andEnglish language that was spoken andwritten in parts of what are now Englandwritten in parts of what are now England

and south-eastern Scotland between atand south-eastern Scotland between atleast the mid-5th century and the mid-12thleast the mid-5th century and the mid-12thcentury.century.

German:German: it is a West Germanic language,it is a West Germanic language,thus related to and classified alongsidethus related to and classified alongsideEnglish and Dutch.English and Dutch.

Source: Wikipedia.org

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There are some words that are pretty similar betweenboth languages:

In the example one, we can see a notable similitudebetween the words, the only thing that changes is the

H (old English) and the S (German).In the example two, the verb in past SAT before the

pronoun THEY, have something particular, in bothlanguages are joined in order to make one word.

Old English German ContemporaryEnglish

HieHie SieSie theytheyStonSton saensaen They satThey sat

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Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman ContemporaryContemporaryEnglishEnglish

WindWind WindWind WindWind

WinterWinter WinterWinter WinterWinter

In these examples, we can see that either inIn these examples, we can see that either in

Old English nor in German, the words areOld English nor in German, the words aretotally written in the same way.totally written in the same way.

There are no differences in spelling but aThere are no differences in spelling but a

little in pronunciation. They have somelittle in pronunciation. They have somevariation in the last sound of the words.variation in the last sound of the words.

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Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman ContemporaryContemporaryEnglishEnglish

MacianMacian machenmachen MakeMake

Min nama isMin nama isMichaelMichael

mein Name istmein Name ist My name is My name is

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All these examples look almost alikeAll these examples look almost alikebetween them, but we can see thatbetween them, but we can see that

in the words are changes of letterin the words are changes of letter

from Old English to German.from Old English to German.

The changes occurs in either in theThe changes occurs in either in the

middle or at the end of the word.middle or at the end of the word.

Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman ContemporaryContemporary

EnglishEnglish

biddanbiddan bittenbitten AskAsk

BaianBaian BadenBaden BatheBathe

legerleger LagerLager BedBed

beddbedd BettBett BedBed

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In the example 1, we can see that in theIn the example 1, we can see that in thewords are some changes of position in thewords are some changes of position in theletters. also, there are some additions ofletters. also, there are some additions ofletter, e.g. e and n.letter, e.g. e and n.Example 2: in these words, we notice that theExample 2: in these words, we notice that the

only difference between them is the additiononly difference between them is the additionof the letter h in German.of the letter h in German.Example 3: we can see a written accent in OldExample 3: we can see a written accent in Old

English. In German it doesnt exist. InEnglish. In German it doesnt exist. Inaddition, there is an addition of the letter naddition, there is an addition of the letter nat the end of the word in German.at the end of the word in German.

Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman ContemporaryContemporaryEnglishEnglish

1. Lichama1. Lichama LeichnamLeichnam BodyBody

2. Flasce2. Flasce FlascheFlasche BottleBottle

3. Mn3. Mn MannMann ManMan

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Example 1: it can be seen that there is an addition of the letter aExample 1: it can be seen that there is an addition of the letter a

in German. Also, there is the deletion of thein German. Also, there is the deletion of the diaeresis of on overdiaeresis of on over

the letter u in Old English.the letter u in Old English.

Example 2: there is no difference at all. In both languages, theExample 2: there is no difference at all. In both languages, the

words are totally alike.words are totally alike.

Example 3: even in these words are not too many similitudes, weExample 3: even in these words are not too many similitudes, we

can say that they are alike in the way they are order. If we seecan say that they are alike in the way they are order. If we see

carefully, both words, the verb us at the end and the infinitive iscarefully, both words, the verb us at the end and the infinitive is

before it and it is join to the verb.before it and it is join to the verb.

Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman Contemporary EnglishContemporary English

1.1. HsHs HausHaus HouseHouse

2. Hund2. Hund HundHund dogdog

3. Undersingan3. Undersingan lauter singenlauter singen to singto sing

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Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman

Si in namaSi in nama

gehalgod.gehalgod.

geheiligt werdegeheiligt werde

Dein Name.Dein Name.

In this part of The Lord Prayer, we can see some similitude asIn this part of The Lord Prayer, we can see some similitude as

well many differences between the two languages.well many differences between the two languages.

first of all, the word NAMA and NAME to refer to NAMEfirst of all, the word NAMA and NAME to refer to NAME

(contemporary English), the only difference between them is the(contemporary English), the only difference between them is the

changing of the final letters. In the first is ending with a andchanging of the final letters. In the first is ending with a and

the second is ending with e.the second is ending with e.

But, the rest of the words are totally different. Moreover, theBut, the rest of the words are totally different. Moreover, the

structure of the sentences is different. It is seen that in German,structure of the sentences is different. It is seen that in German,the word NAME goes at the end of the sentence. On the otherthe word NAME goes at the end of the sentence. On the other

hand, NAMA goes almost in the middle. So, we can see that thehand, NAMA goes almost in the middle. So, we can see that the

word order is pretty much different.word order is pretty much different.

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These questions are nice examplesThese questions are nice examplesof some similitudes that Old Englishof some similitudes that Old English

and German could have. They areand German could have. They arepretty much alike in the way they arepretty much alike in the way they areordered, having the pronoun at theordered, having the pronoun at theend of the question (example 1).end of the question (example 1).

Also, the similitude between someAlso, the similitude between some

words:words: u- du, bidde-u- du, bidde- bitte.bitte.

Old EnglishOld English GermanGerman ContemporaryContemporaryEnglishEnglish

1.1. H htest u? /H htest u? /Hwt is n nama?Hwt is n nama?

Wie heit du?Wie heit du? What is your name?What is your name?

2.2. Hwr is se feltn,Hwr is se feltn,bidde?bidde?

Wo ist die Toilette,Wo ist die Toilette,bitte?bitte?

Where is the toilet,Where is the toilet,please?please?

source: wikipedia.org

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