A Contribution to the Study of Anglo-Norman Influence on English Place-Names (Classic Reprint) - Hardcover

R. E. Zachrisson

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0656013885 ISBN 13: 9780656013883

Publisher: Forgotten Books, 2018

Synopsis

Uncover how history shaped our place names with rigorous, evidence-based analysis.

Delve into a thorough study of how Anglo-Norman pronunciation and spelling influenced English place-names. The work traces sound changes, such as shifts in initial consonants and the evolution of endings like -cester and -chester, and explains why some forms moved from the Norman-French to the English linguistic landscape. It guides readers through concrete examples and the logic behind etymological shifts, offering a clear view of how names like Grantchester and Uttoxeter came to look and sound the way they do today.

This edition compiles detailed examinations of spelling variants, transformations, and the interplay between Old English and Anglo-Norman forms. It includes notes on digitized corroboration from charters, rolls, and other medieval records, plus appendices that illustrate how different writing practices affected early place-names. You’ll see how similarities to familiar suffixes could spur modern spellings to align with English forms, and how scholars determine the most plausible origins of particular names.

1. Concrete etymologies drawn from historical spellings and sources


2. Explanations of common shifts in endings and consonants


3. Guided examples showing how names evolved from early forms


4. Appendices and notes that illuminate the research process

Ideal for readers with an interest in linguistics, medieval history, or English place-names, this book offers a careful, methodical look at how cross‑cultural influence left its mark on the map.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forgotten Books
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0656013885
• ISBN 13: 9780656013883
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 187