Cerdic

Now my Grandfather when he was alive, was a Yorshireman, and he used to say that the older dalesman when he was a lad could understand a dutchman. Presumably the link with frisia?

Or he could have been talking rubbish of course, entirely possible

churuscan

Isnt the Yorkshire accent the one that is descended from Danish Vikings in East England?

Davidius

I have to disagree with this statement. I am a southerner and I would say that everyone in the south knows the meaning of the word kecks. It isn't used very much down here but that's not the same as it being 'little known'.

viking

Sorry for poor expression. I was a southern Englishman before migrating to Oz 48 years ago and even I know Keks but only through the wonders of TV. I used it as an example of a regional word. I'm sure there are some Yorkshire men who will provide a better example.

Hullu Hevonen

I will try to translate a Anglo-Saxon text from Wikipedia about australia.


"Australia (ēac Sūðland gehāten) is land and cynerīċe þæs Sūðernan Healftryndle. Þæt rīċe is ambihtƿise sēo Australia cyneƿise (on Nīƿum Englisce Commonwealth of Australia). Australia þæt ān worulddǣl þǣre ƿorulde þæt belimpeþ be ānum rīċe. Hit is þǣre ƿorulde lytelste ƿorulddǣl."

my translation into english

"Australia (or South Land) is (a) country and 'commonwealth' (in) that(the) southern contignent. That Reich(german word, maybe could be translated to kingdom or country) is called Australian commonwealth(unsure if it is called, might be named or something) (is(in) new English, Commonwealt of Australia). Australia that(is) an worldpart there(where) (a) world(contignent) that has-become an reich(or has come to be an reich). It is there world littlest(smallest) contignent."

So a cleaned up version
"Australia (or South Land) is a country and commonwealth in the 'southern contignent'. That country is called Australian Commonwealth (In new English it is called Commonwealt of Australia). Australia is an contignent where a contignent that has become an country(or has come to be an country). It is there world smallest contignent."


Is there anyone who know anglo-saxon and could tell me if that is a correct translation. This language has much in common with the nordic languages, eg talking of worldparts is still common in nordic countries, called there världsdel(litteraly worldpart). Though the grammar is much english and little german/nordic languages.

churuscan

The Angles originally came form a region in southern Denmark called Angeln, so it would make sense for it to sound similar to Scandinavian languages.

Hullu Hevonen

It is like scandinavian/icelandic with mostly an english vocabilary.

Ou, if I can understand it 800-900 years later it's death why couldn't the 'vikings' have understood them a 1000 years ago?

churuscan

I think they could, Danish and Anglo-Saxon woudl have been like different dialects.

beorna

In not so correct english:
Australia (as well Southland named) is (a) land and kingdom (of) the Souther Hemisphere. That Reich (kingdom) is officially? (called) Australian kingdom (ambiht is offce, I don't know ambihtpise and cynepise, but it has something to do with office/ambiht and royal or rule/cyne)....(on New English Commonwealth of Australia) Australia that (is) a world part of the world that (is) regarded by solely Reich. It is (of) the world (the) littlest world part.

In as well not so correct German:
Australien (auch Südland geheißen) ist (ein) Land und Königreich des südlichen Halbrundes. Das Reich ist amtlich (benannt) Australisches Königreich (auf Neu Englisch Commenwealth of Australia). Australien das (ist) ein Weltteil der Welt das betrachtet wird einzig (als) Reich. Es ist der Welt kleinster Weltteil.

so your translation is quite good.
If we compare it with german and English one can see, that it is nearly between them, perhaps even closer to modern German, to Low german the similarity would be even greater.

churuscan

Looks closer to German to me. Just goes to show how much English changed in isolation.

Now there are so many Latin and French words in English which its why so incomprehensible to Anglo-Saxon.