Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices

This paper aims to document the coinage and diffusion of sin-lexemes and to evaluate the extent of their regional, chronological, and social reach. It starts by tracing the genesis of these concepts and lexemes in Latin and Old English texts, with a particular focus on their usage during the Benedic...

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Main Authors: Olga Timofeeva, Christine Wallis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Université Jean Moulin - Lyon 3 2024-10-01
Series:Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/8612
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author Olga Timofeeva
Christine Wallis
author_facet Olga Timofeeva
Christine Wallis
author_sort Olga Timofeeva
collection DOAJ
description This paper aims to document the coinage and diffusion of sin-lexemes and to evaluate the extent of their regional, chronological, and social reach. It starts by tracing the genesis of these concepts and lexemes in Latin and Old English texts, with a particular focus on their usage during the Benedictine reforms in the second half of the tenth century. Special attention is given to the works of Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 950-1010) and Archbishop Wulfstan (d. 1023), who are known to have collaborated on texts for religious instruction. In addition, the paper examines evidence from anonymous treatises such as the Capitula Theodulfi (c. 800, translated into English around the time of Ælfric and Wulfstan), as well as the works of Byrhtferth of Ramsey (c. 970-1020) and penitential literature. Despite the strong link between Ælfric and Wulfstan, comparisons with other contemporary authors, and especially penitentials, reveal that Ælfrician vocabulary did not achieve widespread adoption. This lack of uniformity may have contributed to the limited survival of Old English sin-lexemes into the Middle English period.
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spelling doaj-art-a7e55dabfe3742f5a4a1a990f500fc372025-08-20T01:54:07ZengUniversité Jean Moulin - Lyon 3Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology1951-62152024-10-01310.4000/12izdSocial ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vicesOlga TimofeevaChristine WallisThis paper aims to document the coinage and diffusion of sin-lexemes and to evaluate the extent of their regional, chronological, and social reach. It starts by tracing the genesis of these concepts and lexemes in Latin and Old English texts, with a particular focus on their usage during the Benedictine reforms in the second half of the tenth century. Special attention is given to the works of Ælfric of Eynsham (c. 950-1010) and Archbishop Wulfstan (d. 1023), who are known to have collaborated on texts for religious instruction. In addition, the paper examines evidence from anonymous treatises such as the Capitula Theodulfi (c. 800, translated into English around the time of Ælfric and Wulfstan), as well as the works of Byrhtferth of Ramsey (c. 970-1020) and penitential literature. Despite the strong link between Ælfric and Wulfstan, comparisons with other contemporary authors, and especially penitentials, reveal that Ælfrician vocabulary did not achieve widespread adoption. This lack of uniformity may have contributed to the limited survival of Old English sin-lexemes into the Middle English period.https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/8612Old EnglishLatincapital sinssocial tieslexical norms
spellingShingle Olga Timofeeva
Christine Wallis
Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices
Lexis: Journal in English Lexicology
Old English
Latin
capital sins
social ties
lexical norms
title Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices
title_full Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices
title_fullStr Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices
title_full_unstemmed Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices
title_short Social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in Old English: The vocabularies of vices
title_sort social ties and negotiation of lexical norms in old english the vocabularies of vices
topic Old English
Latin
capital sins
social ties
lexical norms
url https://journals.openedition.org/lexis/8612
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