The Wordhord: Daily Life in Old English

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This entertaining collection explores the fascinating and often baffling words from the origins of English, shedding light on the lives of its earliest speakers. Old English, the language of Beowulf, is a challenge for modern readers, differing significantly from Shakespearean or Middle English. It features words that have remained unchanged, like "word," alongside others that are unrecognizable, such as "neorxnawang" (paradise), and some that remain puzzling even in translation, like "gafol-fisc" (tax-fish). The author, Hana Videen, curates a delightful assortment of these linguistic gems to reveal the everyday lives of early English speakers. Readers will encounter a world where choking on bread could signify guilt, where "fiend-ship" was as common as friendship, and where one could aspire to be a "laughter-smith." The book takes readers through Old English vocabulary related to daily activities (eating, drinking, working), relationships, health, nature, travel, mortality, religion, and storytelling. Each chapter concludes with a "wordhord," listing Old English terms with definitions and pronunciations. This enlightening journey into the roots of the English language will change how readers perceive and use English forever.