How to Speak Old English in the Medieval Times (The Beginners Guide)

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Whether you are writing a book, acting, or just want to wow others with your knowledge, this article will start you off on the path to speaking a whole new language—and how NOT to say the wrong thing!

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Dictionary w/ Etymology Resource
Notebook and pen

Step1

START WITH THE BASICS- The Old-English (O.E.) language is just that, old. No one talks that way anymore. But what if you found yourself in a century when they did speak this language? As with learning any new language, you have to start with the basics. “Yes” and “No” vs. O.E. ”Yea” and “Nay.” “Goodbye” vs. O.E. “Good day” or “God be with ye.” The simple forms of communication will get you off to a great start.

Step2

AVOID WORDS THAT WILL OFFEND- Be careful that you aren’t offensive! If you were to walk up to a man/woman in the early Medieval times and tell them they look nice, you are in fact telling them they look “foolish.” The same with the word “pretty,” which meant “cunning and tricky” until the late 1400s.

Step3

WATCH OUT FOR MODERN WORDS AND PHRASES- Every word has a history, and original meaning. Words traveled from all over the globe and had to become known and popular before they were recognized. For instance, “hello” is the adaption for the 16th century word “hollo,” (which was the shout to grab someone’s attention), and was not recorded until the late 19th century. And you wouldn’t go around Medieval England spouting phrases like “I’m going to brain you,” or “you’ve got to be kidding me.”

Step4

BUILD YOUR VOCABULARY- So, you begin learning a language by starting with the basics, and now its time to build your vocabulary. What are some of the most common phrases you would need to know when visiting a foreign country? You couldn’t ask someone in Medieval England “Where’s the bathroom?” because, most likely, they’d point you to a nearby river for you the bathe in. How would you communicate that you needed help if you were injured? Good news! “Help” is in the O.E. language. However, “hurt” wasn’t until the 1200s. Use something more simple like “sick” or “wounded.” Try to keep to the more simple words, that is always the best when you are unsure what is appropriate.

Step5

THROW AWAY CONTRACTIONS- We might be lazy with the English language today by shortening words like “do not” to “don’t” and “you would” to “you’d.” Do not use it here! Keep everything flowing and full. The contractions of past centuries are not the same as those we use today. For example “It is” was often contracted to “’Tis” and so on.

Step6

FROM THE NOBLES TO THE COMMONERS- It is important to learn your history. The upper class did not speak as the lower, common folk did. After the invasion of the Anglo-Saxons into England, you’ll notice the nobles spoke more French, while the lower classes spoke English. Remember that the lower class are not as educated, and that includes the way they speak. Everyone in Medieval England substituted “you” with “ye,” upper class included.

Step7

READ- Look at documents and letters written in Old English. Notice the spellings. People wrote how they thought a word sounded, rather than how they’d been told was the proper way to spell it. Notice words like “Always”—which were not used in this form until 1350—and how in O.E. this was actually two words “Ealne Weg.” It means the same thing, but it completely different from how we see and spell the word today.

Step8

JOURNAL IT- It is important to write down whenever you learn something new about a word. Keep it in a notebook so you can have it handy to review. This way you aren’t having to research it every time you want to use it. Find online resources and dictionaries that record the historical information of words and bookmark it.

Step9

LISTEN AND CONSIDER- Listen to how you talk and the words you use. Study the differences and think about how you might say it differently so that the same message gets across to someone from the 900s. You might think of a phrase you want to say and find that none of the words will work, so try to change it around completely, and try from another angle, to see if you can’t make it work. “I worry about your safety.” vs. “I care for you to be well.”