Question

Latin and .......................... were the two major influences on Old English.

• A. Greek
• B. French
• C. Scandinavian
• D. Indian

Hint:

Distinguish between influences on Old English and Middle English. Old English = Germanic base + Latin + Scandinavian. Middle English = Old English base + massive French and Latin influence.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks about the primary linguistic influences on the Old English language.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Old English (Anglo-Saxon) was a Germanic language. Its development was influenced by several other languages:
1. Latin: Influence came from the Roman Empire's earlier presence in Britain and later through the Christianization of the Anglo-Saxons, which introduced many ecclesiastical terms.
2. Scandinavian (Old Norse): Viking raids and settlement in parts of England (the Danelaw) from the late 8th century onwards led to significant borrowing of words from Old Norse into Old English. Many core English words like 'sky', 'skin', 'they', and 'are' come from this influence.
3. French: The influence of French became dominant *after* the Norman Conquest in 1066, marking the transition from Old English to Middle English. It was not a major influence *on* Old English itself.
Therefore, the two major influences on Old English were Latin and Scandinavian.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Alongside Latin, the Scandinavian languages (Old Norse) had a major influence on the vocabulary and grammar of Old English. Therefore, option (C) is correct.