The North Sea Empire of Cnut
English Language and Culture in a Surviving North Sea Empire?
- Thread starter The Gybson Boy
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The North Sea Empire of Cnut
Imagine that Cnut lives until he is 60 and dies around 1055, he is succeeded by Harthacnut/Cnut III, who is a much more competent ruler and lives until 1081, being succeeded by his own son, also imagine that somehow the If the North Sea Empire survives and remains united in the figure of a single monarch for at least two centuries, how do you believe that the English language and culture would be affected by continued Norse domination?
The North Sea Empire of Cnut
the major effect will be the lack of Norman influence, beside that the hard part is avoiding it falling into pierces, w3 pretty much have to go up the Valdemar I the Great and his son Valdemar II the Victorious before we see Danish oversea possession not being lost in one generation with the Principality of Rügen and the Duchy of Estonia. How do the Danish kings successfully keep control over England longer, do they kill off most of the English nobility like the Norman did, that will create a quite different model from the Danish king’s heir also successful keeping it together through wit and threat of violence for several generation until the new status quo are accepted.
More Norse influence and less (but not no) French influence
It would probably still become grammatically simpler - the Norse languages have all gone from three genders to two, for example, as has Dutch to an extent
It would probably still become grammatically simpler - the Norse languages have all gone from three genders to two, for example, as has Dutch to an extent
The Scandinavian influence on English wouldn't that much greater than OTL. The Anglo-Danes were largely assimilated by the 11th century and it's unlikely there will be further waves of Scandinavian settlers. And unlike William the Bastard, Canute wasn't against appointing Englishmen to high offices. English wouldn't be reduced to the language of peasants in this ATL.
Regarding grammar, the biggest difference might be the plural system for English. The Normans didn't introduce -s for plurals in English, but it did become supreme under their rule due to the influence of French.
Verb conjugations (I am, you are, he is, etc.) could become a lot more simplified in comparison to OTL. There would be a need to ease communication between Old English and Old Norse speakers given the confusion these two similar languages would create for bilingual speakers. This had already happened in the Danelaw, but now Danish rule has extended over the whole country. It's possible English could end up like Norwegian with only one verb conjugation for 'to be'. Something like: I are (Jeg er).
It's also possible English would start to influence the North Germanic languages if Anglo-Saxon noblemen and traders begin to move into Scandinavia.
Regarding grammar, the biggest difference might be the plural system for English. The Normans didn't introduce -s for plurals in English, but it did become supreme under their rule due to the influence of French.
Verb conjugations (I am, you are, he is, etc.) could become a lot more simplified in comparison to OTL. There would be a need to ease communication between Old English and Old Norse speakers given the confusion these two similar languages would create for bilingual speakers. This had already happened in the Danelaw, but now Danish rule has extended over the whole country. It's possible English could end up like Norwegian with only one verb conjugation for 'to be'. Something like: I are (Jeg er).
It's also possible English would start to influence the North Germanic languages if Anglo-Saxon noblemen and traders begin to move into Scandinavia.
A lot depend on foreign policy of Denmark-England, if they decides to go conquering in Wales, Ireland and Scotland, Danes may join English settlers in these regions, and vice versa if Denmark expand in the Baltic.
It’s unlikely that English will end up like Norwegian, which was very much a result of both language being similar enough that they used the same Bible. While the same could happen to English and Danish, it’s not given which dialect will end up the standard dialect.
Yes, it’s not impossible that first Danish towns will be more English than Danish, and honestly Dano-English could replace Low Saxon as the dominant language of the Baltic.
Another important aspect is what happens to Denmark, in OTL Denmark became centered around the Sound, it have rich soil, give access to all part of Danish realm oversea possessions and gave control over the Baltic. But the first towns we hear mention in Denmark is Ribe on the North Sea. Ribe stay an important Danish city until the South Jutland becomes the duchy of Schleswig and Ribe end up a Danish enclave. If Denmark and England is in union and Denmark have a greater focus on the North Sea, Ribe will likely stay far more important and may even end up the Danish capital. This could very well mean that the standard Danish dialect doesn’t end up East Zealandic, but instead West Jutish.