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Usually no strict rules in past Old English for spelling, so scribes probably wrote as they spokewith evidence from language variation. Comparative reconstructionworking back from present known forms. Known sound changes, e.g., hit becoming it can easily happen as initial h dropped also in Modern English (I saw im) Poetic evidencehow poets use rhyme of alliteration.
With the coming of Christianity in 597, there was a need for manuscripts for religious purposes Materials start from about the year 700, mostly glossaries (lists) of Latin words Probably many texts were lost From about 850 on more religious texts, lives of saints, sermons, etc.
Secular literature, epic poetry, e.g. Beowulf Also works translated from Latin Texts remaining total about 3.5 million words
The Vowels
Long Vowels y [] Short Vowels a
e i o u y []
Diphthongs
Long a Short ea
eo
ConsonantsThe Differences
f, s Voiced (like v and z) between vowels and voiced sounds Voiceless (like f and s) elsewhere Symbols interchangeable Voiced between vowels and voiced sounds Voiceless elsewhere
c g h
Like before front vowels k elsewhere Like y before front vowels g elsewhere Like voiceless fricative []
sc cg
r was probably trilled Other consonants much like expected Contrast of short and long consonants
Vowel Mutations
Happened also in ancient times, e.g., goose/geese; mouse/mice; old/elder; man/men; blood/bleed In early Old English another vowel mutation, i-mutation (umlaut), probably in 7th century but not too much later
When followed by a syllable with the high front vowel i, the vowel in a stressed syllable became front, e.g., *fotiz became fet, Modern English feet. Also provides evidence for when certain Latin words were borrowed into OE, e.g., Latin caseus in in OE cyse, so we know this word was already in OE in the 7th century.