An Old English Grammar, (Methuen's Old English Library) (English and Old English Edition)

By Randolph Quirk, C Wrenn, Charles L. Wrenn, et al.

Book Overview

Once again available in paperback, Quirk and Wrenn's An Old English Grammar is a convenient reference tool to complement readings in Old English. Appropriate for basic or advanced study of Old English language and literature, this brief modern grammar covers orthography, pronunciation, inflection, syntax, word formation, and phonology. The authors provide a clear overview of Late West Saxon, with notes that open up the complexities of the language for those who wish to pursue them. The supplemental bibliography in this edition reflects the most relevant recent contributions to the study of Old English.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0416772404
• ISBN13: 9780416772401
• Release Date: January 1973
• Publisher: Routledge Kegan & Paul
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Very Useful, Informative and Practical Grammatical Lexicon

As the preface to this edition indicates, this Grammar is designed for the literary student of English as opposed to the student of philology. Thus, the emphasis is on practical issues of the language. In other words, it eschews lengthy and digressive forays into the history or context of certain linguistic developments (though it does touch on certain essential matters) and focuses instead on the issues most pertinent to one who wishes to begin mastering the basics and intermediate elements of the language, such as inflexions, cases, syntactical issues. One does not need to bring a broad basis of linguuistic training/experience to bear; but one should keep in mind that it is presented like a traditional lexicon one might encounter in Latin or Greek, i.e., no handholding through the practical elements of the language - nor is it riddled with practice sentences or parallel examples in ModE. For those, however, who want to undertake a rigorous and systematic study of the basics of OE, this is a very handy and practical Grammar reference with which to begin such an endeavor.