The English Language Before England: An Epigraphic Account

This pioneering work explores epigraphic evidence for the development of English before the Anglo-Saxon period, combining linguistic, historical, and archaeological perspectives to make early inscriptions more accessible to a wider audience. It offers a new account of the Germanic development of Anglo-Saxon England, charting the origins of key terms and early writing systems used by Germanic peoples. The analysis is placed within historical and linguistic frameworks and provides archaeological contextualizations, re-examining existing models of the early development of English and opening new paths for research on historical dialectology.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 16 September 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This groundbreaking work delves into epigraphic evidence to uncover the evolution of English before the Anglo-Saxon period, presenting a comprehensive synthesis of linguistic, historical, and archaeological perspectives on early inscriptions. By making these insights more accessible to a broader audience, the volume offers a fresh perspective on the Germanic development of Anglo-Saxon England.

The book begins by examining the earliest inscriptions from northern Europe, including those that preserve Germanic names, many of which were only discovered in the 1980s. It charts the origins of key terms such as Angle, Saxon, and Jute, as well as early writing systems used by Germanic peoples. The analysis is contextualized within historical and linguistic frameworks, but also incorporates archaeological contextualizations, assessed chronologically, for the inscriptions.

By re-examining existing models of the early development of English through the lens of contemporary approaches, this work opens up new avenues for research in historical dialectology. It is an essential resource for students and scholars interested in the history of English and historical linguistics.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032214177