Part 3: Understanding Theory and Issues in the Field Reflection on a Substantive Research Paper: Viking Influence on English Language

Did you know that you cannot hit, scare, scream, scowl or die without using Scandinavian verbs, nor can a fellow or a husband look in anger through the window at the sky without using Scandinavian nouns (Nielsen, 1998, p. 182). This certainly suggests that Scandinavians had a meaningful influence on the English language During the spring semester of 2013, I took the class AL 6310: History of the English Language. One of the topics discussed was the Vikings invasions in England and their influence on the English language. The Vikings are a part of my countrys (Norway) history and culture. I therefore wanted to do my research paper on the Vikings influence on the English language. The first part of the paper covers the social and political events that led to changes in the English language. Here I discussed the three stages of the Viking invasions. Stage One, from 789 to 866, was a period of raids and plundering by small isolated bands. In Stage Two, 866 to 991, large armies started invading England. The final stage was an age of political conquest that lasted from 991 to 1042, with a major event in 1016 when England received its first Danish King. During Stages One and Two a large number of Scandinavians settled in northern and eastern England. The Vikings were a very cosmopolitan people, since they were great travellers. The settlers easily integrated with the Anglo-Saxon culture. For instance, many Viking settlers accepted Christianity, and there were several intermarriages. As a result, more Scandinavian elements entered the English language.

The second part of the paper showcases the actual language changes that took place as a result of the invasions and settlements. The major influence was the large number of loanwords that became incorporated into English. Loans entered in all the word classes, even in prepositions, pronouns and conjunctions, which is rare. Outside Standard English, many Scandinavian loans are still found in English dialects. Furthermore, a large number of place names in the settlements also featured Scandinavian elements, like by in Kettleby. The influence also extended to grammar. For instance, the are form of the verb to be is of Scandinavian origin. Phonological elements also affected English, like the initial [sk] sound in words like sky, skin, skirt. Getting to research the Vikings influence on the English language was fascinating. The impact they had was a lot more significant than what I had imagined. For instance, it surprised me that everyday English words like egg, sky, awkward, take, hit, anger, weak, wing, birth, ugly, skin, window, sister, and blue are of Scandinavian origin. I really enjoyed writing this paper, and I am pleased with the end result. The paper is clear, tightly-argued and well-cited. I found good sources that provided me with many examples of the language influences. Consequently, there are many examples of loanwords and place names with Scandinavian elements in my paper. However, there were a few matters that needed improvement. For instance, one paragraph about influences in phonology that was a bit short and needed expanding. The sources I found only wrote briefly about this topic, since only three phonological influences have been documented. I therefore wrote more about the English sounds they replaced, and included those examples instead. My thesis also had to be revised. Originally it was: In this paper I will discuss the influence Vikings had on the English language. However, my course

instructor advised me to state it as an argument, so I changed it to: The influence the Vikings had on the English language was significant I was really motivated to learn more about my ancestors and their language. I knew little about their history in England. My research revealed that the Vikings had influence on grammar, place names, and phonology. In addition, several Scandinavian loans were documented in Standard English, as well as in dialects of northern and eastern England. I therefore concluded that the Vikings influence on the English language was significant. I believe the knowledge gained from this paper can be used to create lesson plans for English classes, in Norway. British and American history is often taught to Norwegian students, and several schoolbooks have reading material on this matter. In the future, I hope I can incorporate the knowledge gained from this paper. For example, students could improve their literacy skills by reading handouts and answering questions about the Vikings influence in England. I also believe Norwegian students would find this topic motivating, since Vikings are a great part of Norways pride and culture.

References Nilsen, F. C. (1998) The Continental Backgrounds of English and its Insular Development until 1154. Denmark: Odense University Press