The Last Kingdom is a popular historical fiction television series that depicts the struggles of the Saxons and Danes in 9th-century England. One of the notable aspects of the show is its depiction of the diverse British languages spoken during that time period. In this post, we will explore the British languages featured in The Last Kingdom and their significance.
Old English: The Language of the Saxons
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, was the primary language spoken by the Saxons in The Last Kingdom. The show accurately depicts the way that Old English was spoken at the time, including its inflections and pronunciation. The characters in the show use a variety of dialects and accents, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.
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One of the most interesting aspects of Old English is its complex system of inflection. Nouns, adjectives, and verbs all have different forms depending on their case, number, and gender. This means that Old English words can change significantly depending on their grammatical context.
For example, the Old English word for "king" is cyning. However, in the dative case (used for indirect objects), it becomes cyninge. In the plural, it becomes cyningas. Similarly, the verb "to be" (bēon) has different forms for each person and number, such as eom (I am), bist (you are), and is (he/she/it is).
The complexity of Old English grammar can make it challenging for modern speakers to learn, but it also gives the language a unique character and beauty. The use of Old English in The Last Kingdom helps to create an immersive and authentic historical setting.
Old Norse: The Language of the Danes
The Danes in The Last Kingdom speak Old Norse, which was the language spoken by the Vikings during their raids on England. Old Norse is a North Germanic language closely related to Old English, and it shares many similarities with its Anglo-Saxon counterpart. However, there are also significant differences between the two languages.
One of the most notable differences between Old Norse and Old English is their pronunciation. Old Norse had a distinctive feature known as a "voiced velar fricative," which is represented by the letter "ð" (known as "eth"). This sound is similar to the "th" sound in modern English words like "the" and "they," but it was pronounced differently in Old Norse.
In The Last Kingdom, the Danish characters often use Old Norse words and phrases in their conversations. This helps to highlight the cultural and linguistic differences between the Saxons and the Danes, and it adds an extra layer of authenticity to the show's depiction of the Viking era.
Welsh: The Language of the Britons
In addition to Old English and Old Norse, The Last Kingdom also features the Welsh language, which was spoken by the Britons in what is now Wales. The Welsh language is a Celtic language that has been spoken in Britain since at least the Iron Age.
In the show, the Welsh characters speak Welsh with English subtitles. This is an accurate reflection of the linguistic situation in 9th-century Britain, where multiple languages were spoken in different regions. The use of Welsh in The Last Kingdom also helps to emphasize the diversity of the British Isles and the complex cultural and linguistic interactions that took place during this period.
Latin: The Language of the Church
In addition to the British languages spoken by the characters in The Last Kingdom, Latin also plays an important role in the show. Latin was the language of the Christian church, which was a powerful force in medieval Europe. The show accurately depicts the way that Latin was used in religious contexts, such as in the prayers and hymns sung by the characters.