Summary
Highlights
This lesson introduces the pronunciation of Old English. While some letters share the same pronunciation as Modern English, many have distinct sounds.
The video details the pronunciation of various Old English vowels, including 'a' as in father, 'e' as in let, 'o' as in spot, and a unique 'u' sound not found in Modern English but present in French and German.
Four common double vowels or diphthongs in Old English are presented: 'ae', 'ea', 'eu', and 'eo'.
Consonants like 'H' are discussed; at the beginning of words, it's like Modern English, but in the middle or end, it's a guttural sound. The combination 'sc' is pronounced 'sha', and 'f' at the beginning of a word is 'f', but in the middle or end, it's 'v'.
The video introduces symbols not found in Modern English, such as 'Thorn' (þ) and 'Eth' (ð), both representing 'th' sounds (though used interchangeably). 'Wynn' (ƿ) represents 'w' and comes from the runic alphabet. A 'g' with a dot over it usually pronounces as 'y' as in 'yes'. Lastly, a 'c' with a dot over it represents the 'cha' sound.