Interesting things to know ...
Today's entry at Common Errors in English Usage:
Old English
Many people refer to any older form of English as “Old English,” but this is properly a technical term for Anglo-Saxon, the original language in which Beowulf was written. Norman French combined with Old English to create Middle English, one form of which was used by Geoffrey Chaucer to write The Canterbury Tales. By Shakespeare’s time the language is modern English, though it may seem antique to modern readers who aren’t used to it.
There are many “Old English” typefaces which have nothing to do with the Old English language.
Old English, Anglo-Saxon
Wæs þa an gereord on eorþan, ond heora ealre an spræc.
Hi ferdon fram eastdele oð þæt hi comon to anum felde on þam lande Sennar, ond þer wunedon.
Ða cwædon hi him betwynan, "Uton wyrcean us tigelan ond ælan hi on fyre." Witodlice hi hæfdon tigelan for stan ond tyrwan for weall-lim.
Ond cwædon, "Cumað ond utan wircan us ane burh ond ænne stypel swa heahne ðæt his rof atille þa heofonan, ond uton mærsian urne namon, ær þan we beon todælede to eallum landum."
from Genesis, Tower of Babel, 1-4
Middle English
Forsothe the lond was of o langage, and of the same speche.
And whanne thei yeden forth fro the eest, thei fonden a feeld in the lond of Sennaar, and dwelliden ther ynne.
And oon seide to his neiybore," Come ye, and make we tiel stonys, and bake we tho with fier"; and thei hadden tiel for stonus, and pitche for morter;
and seiden, "Come ye, and make we to vs a citee and tour, whos hiynesse stretche 'til to heuene; and make we solempne oure name bifor that we be departid in to alle londis."
from Genesis, Tower of Babel, 1-4
Modern English
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.
And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."
from Genesis, Tower of Babel, 1-4
About the Old English font type: The Blackletter Typeface: A Long And Colored History
Old English
Many people refer to any older form of English as “Old English,” but this is properly a technical term for Anglo-Saxon, the original language in which Beowulf was written. Norman French combined with Old English to create Middle English, one form of which was used by Geoffrey Chaucer to write The Canterbury Tales. By Shakespeare’s time the language is modern English, though it may seem antique to modern readers who aren’t used to it.
There are many “Old English” typefaces which have nothing to do with the Old English language.
Old English, Anglo-Saxon
Wæs þa an gereord on eorþan, ond heora ealre an spræc.
Hi ferdon fram eastdele oð þæt hi comon to anum felde on þam lande Sennar, ond þer wunedon.
Ða cwædon hi him betwynan, "Uton wyrcean us tigelan ond ælan hi on fyre." Witodlice hi hæfdon tigelan for stan ond tyrwan for weall-lim.
Ond cwædon, "Cumað ond utan wircan us ane burh ond ænne stypel swa heahne ðæt his rof atille þa heofonan, ond uton mærsian urne namon, ær þan we beon todælede to eallum landum."
from Genesis, Tower of Babel, 1-4
Middle English
Forsothe the lond was of o langage, and of the same speche.
And whanne thei yeden forth fro the eest, thei fonden a feeld in the lond of Sennaar, and dwelliden ther ynne.
And oon seide to his neiybore," Come ye, and make we tiel stonys, and bake we tho with fier"; and thei hadden tiel for stonus, and pitche for morter;
and seiden, "Come ye, and make we to vs a citee and tour, whos hiynesse stretche 'til to heuene; and make we solempne oure name bifor that we be departid in to alle londis."
from Genesis, Tower of Babel, 1-4
Modern English
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.
And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth."
from Genesis, Tower of Babel, 1-4
About the Old English font type: The Blackletter Typeface: A Long And Colored History