The Core

Why We Are Here => Water Cooler => Topic started by: Rumbas on November 29, 2012, 07:07:11 PM

Title: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: Rumbas on November 29, 2012, 07:07:11 PM
We're all Vikings. Deal with it or face the Danelaw.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094111.htm
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: Torben on November 29, 2012, 09:04:18 PM
Looks like se have copyright issue here, so pay up next time you open your mouth ;-)
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: littleman on November 29, 2012, 10:01:06 PM
A friend's dad is from Norway and came over to the States in his late 20s.  Oddly, he some how is able to speak English with an American accent.  I know that a lot of Scandinavians learn English in school, but the way he gets the inflections, tone and colonialism right is really something.
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: buckworks on November 29, 2012, 10:26:45 PM
If you enjoy audio books and are interested in the evolution of language, I highly recommend this title:

The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language

http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=sr_1_2?asin=B002V1LN2U&qid=1354227837&sr=1-2

The narrator was top notch and I think I got a lot more from listening than I would have just from reading the printed page.
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: Drastic on November 29, 2012, 10:51:29 PM
Bork Bork Bork!!

I knew there was I reason I liked killing, pillaging, and all those fav viking pastimes. Now, if we could just teach you guys some redneck.

>I know that a lot of Scandinavians learn English in school, but the way he gets the inflections, tone and colonialism right is really something.

They get it from the TV we pipe over.
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: grnidone on November 29, 2012, 11:50:49 PM
QuoteFor example, all the lexical words in this sentence are Scandinavian: He took the knife and cut the steak. Only he, the and and come from Old English.
Fascinating..

My sister who studied speech pathology said that English also has a lot in common with some of the Indian (dot not feather) languages...
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: Brad on November 30, 2012, 01:08:32 PM
Fascinating article.  I guess this should not surprise me since Modern English is such a hybrid language, but I never though the Scandinavian influence was so great.

They talk about the Danelaw lasting for about 50 years, but the raids by the Norse and smaller scale  settlement were going on for many decades before, so even more time for the language to take root.
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: JasonD on November 30, 2012, 01:58:27 PM
Every Scandi I've ever met has been a cunning linguist; or at least that's what their wives told me!
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: littleman on November 30, 2012, 10:34:44 PM
Quote from: JasonD on November 30, 2012, 01:58:27 PM
Every Scandi I've ever met has been a cunning linguist; or at least that's what their wives told me!
::)   ...Actually, that is the perfect self-censoring joke -- either you get it or it will fly right past you.
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: Brad on December 01, 2012, 12:00:55 AM
How closely related are the Scandinavian languages, can a Norwegian understand a Dane, etc?
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: IrishWonder on December 01, 2012, 01:15:50 AM
Pretty close
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: Rumbas on December 02, 2012, 01:15:33 PM
>How closely related are the Scandinavian languages

Very close.

We get Norwegian better than Swedish, but they also have their variations that Danes don't get. Vice versa, heck we even have local dialects here that I dont understand either.

But yes, Danes, Swedes and Norwegians would understand each other on a general note, but still a large number of words are different.

>I liked killing, pillaging, and all those fav viking pastimes

Hahaha, we also dig the Redneck fer sure :)

>They get it from the TV we pipe over.

Absolutely and the fact we do subtitles and not dubbing on TV, start teaching English in 2nd/3rd grade as well.

Heh Jason ;)
Title: Re: English is a Scandinavian language
Post by: JasonD on December 02, 2012, 06:18:05 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U4_VpGMnSfg#t=79s