In class we discussed how other languages have greatly influenced the English language over the centuries. I've been rather interested in this subject the latter years, especially the Norwegian (fine, lets also include the Danes and the Swedes) influence.
#Fun fact, when I was a little kid we all learned that the word "bag", used in the Norwegian language (pronounced the same way), was an ENGLISH word. I looked at it as the first English word I learned. Later, we learned that the word was actually of Norwegian origin, more specifically from the word "baggí", meaning a travel pouch, usually crafted from leather.
I discovered this list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_words_of_Old_Norse_origin
It hit me by surprise that so many words, lots of them commonly used ones, derived from Old Norse. I highly recommend that you read through the list
Examples are:
Anger
bag
awkward
ball
birth
cake
crawl
dirt
egg
gap
(to) get
guest
give
hammer
happy
knife
outlaw
(to) take
ugly
window
GO VIKINGS!
-S
I can well imagine that when those angry, awkward, dirty outlaws crawled up out of the sea waving their hammers and knives we Brits no doubt felt inclined to take umbrage. However, when we saw they brought along cakes and eggs (and Danish bacon too?) and lo even a ball - what a great window of opportunity for our beloved bats and wickets – we were happy to accept them as our ‘guests’ for a while. After all, despite their difficulties with the tides, they were much nicer folk than the next lot, with whom - to this day - our relationship has never been cordial(e).
SvarSlettAh yes, the Duke of Normany and the Battle of Hastings. What a shame, eh? At least you kicked out those frogs eventually! hehe
SvarSlett