Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Studies in the Diction of Layamon's Brut

1930; Linguistic Society of America; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/408767

1535-0665

Henry Cecil Kennedy Wyld,

Linguistics and language evolution

The diction of La3amon is so rich, varied and expressive, and contains so many interesting features, that it is worth while to bestow a rather particular consideration upon it. The enquiry here undertaken is designed to exhibit, on the one hand, the persistence of the old poetical tradition in the use of words and phrases, and, on the other, certain departures from this in the adoption of new words, or the employment of old words or bases in new ways, or in fresh combinations, whether of words in the sentence, or of elements in compounds. If the historical and social events are borne in mind which had taken place between the writing of the latest Anglo-Saxon poetry still preserved, and the composition of the Brut, it will perhaps appear less remarkable that new usages should have sprung up than that so much of the old poetical and literary vocabulary should still survive. Amid all the chances and changes of the century and a half which had elapsed since the Conquest, the work of the Worcestershire poet retains the ancient poetic atmosphere, and embodies the ancient culture of his people. The Brut deserves to be studied with reverence and patience. It is high time that students of English should recognize that here is one of the noblest landmarks in English poetry, which expresses in a masterly manner the genius of our race. It is a rich treasure-house of early poetical English, and of stories and traditions which later poets have made immortal. Yet the young student reads it, for the most part, in mere snippets and brief extracts!