scandinavian influences on the Enhglish language

[bodybeatrock]

Can anyone help me on where i would look for examples of influences on the English language from the invasion of scandinavian tribes between th 8th and 11th century?

[Xollob]

A good place to start is Wikipedia. This is a link to a section on the Viking influence on Old English. And here's a link to a page that includes Viking place names in Yorkshire.

[shammydodger]

I'm sure there are worthier and more highbrow places to look, but I enjoyed "Mother Tongue" by Bill Bryson. A witty and accessible account of the history of (particularly) the English language. With a nice chapter on profanity, too!

[Octavius]

A good topic to read through here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/lj/conquestlj/legacy_01.shtml?site=history_vikings

[Azimov]

When I stayed for a few months in Sweden back in 92 or thereabouts, I was "reliably" informed that the only word to be adopted into common English usage (from Swedish) was "Ombudsman" which literally translated means "About Tax Man"

Whether this is true or not I am not sure.
Incidentally, it was my Swedish tutor who told me this!

[beetucks]

Thorpe and thwaite in Yorkshire place names are i believe scandinavian as is the use of the word appen meaning perhaps

[jno]

yes, start with a map; there's a sharp line between the old Danelaw, with its Scandinavian names (-thorp, -by, -thwait, -toft) and the rest. The Danelaw area was east of a line drawn roughly from London to Chester.

[alfiebrady]

"The Adventure Of English" by Melvyn Bragg

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0340829931/026-6021996-0908434

[d0gsb0dy]

When I was growing up in Manchester, we always called a dustbin a 'midden'. Lots of other terms, we used were either of Scandinavian or Elizabethan origin. For instance, a funnel was always called a tundish. Shakespearian, I believe.