Obsolete Scandinavian Loanwords in English

by Magdalena Bator

Overview

So far, no comprehensive study of the obsolescence of Scandinavian loanwords in English has ever been published. This book remedies that situation, and presents an analysis of the causes of obsolescence of Scandinavian loanwords in English since the 15th century. The study has mainly been based on the Oxford English Dictionary and the Middle English Dictionary. Over 300 loanwords have been selected, grouped into semantic fields and analysed. To account for their disappearance, reasons such as the rivalry of synonyms, the exclusive use in local dialects, the disappearance of the referent as well as rare occurrence or phonological changes were investigated.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783631613160
Publisher:	Peter Lang GmbH, Internationaler Verlag der Wissenschaften
Publication date:	09/17/2010
Series:	Studies in English Medieval Language and Literature , #26
Pages:	266
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

Magdalena Bator, born in 1980, received her Ph.D. from Adam Mickiewicz University Poznań (Poland) in 2008. Currently she is lecturer at the School of English at the Academy of Management (Społeczna Wyższa Szkoła Przedsiębiorczości i Zarządzania) in Warsaw (Poland). Her research interests focus on various aspects of English historical linguistics, in particular historical lexicology.

Table of Contents

Contents: Viking invasions – Scandinavian loanwords in English – Obsolescence of vocabulary – Rivalry between synonyms – Scandinavian vs. native vocabulary – Scandinavian vs. French loans.