The Anglo-Saxon alphabet, also known as Old English, was used by the Anglo-Saxons in England from the 5th century until the Norman Conquest in 1066. This alphabet is an early form of the Latin alphabet and was used to write the Old English language.
Old English is a Germanic language that was spoken in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is the earliest form of the English language and is characterized by its use of different letters and sounds compared to modern English.
Anglo Saxon Alphabet: Old English
The Anglo-Saxon alphabet consisted of 29 letters, including some letters that are no longer used in modern English. The letters were derived from the Latin alphabet but had their own unique shapes and pronunciations.
Some of the letters in the Anglo-Saxon alphabet had special characters, such as the thorn (þ) and eth (ð), which were used to represent the sounds “th” as in “thin” and “this.” These letters were eventually replaced by the digraphs “th” in modern English.
Other letters in the Anglo-Saxon alphabet included the ash (æ), which represented the short “a” sound, and the wynn (ƿ), which represented the “w” sound. These letters were used to write words in Old English that are no longer used in modern English.
Despite its differences from modern English, the Anglo-Saxon alphabet played an important role in the development of the English language. It laid the foundation for the spelling and pronunciation of words in English and helped shape the language into what it is today.
In conclusion, the Anglo-Saxon alphabet, or Old English, was a key component of the early English language. It featured unique letters and sounds that have influenced the way we write and speak English today. While it may no longer be in use, its legacy lives on in the language we use every day.