Orþógrafi
The vowel letters(“V” below):
u/o/ò/a/à/(å)/æ/e/è/i/y
ú/ó/ô/á/â/(ǻ)/ǽ/é/ê/í/ý
The grave accent mark and the circumflex are used to separate the sound of the V from the following C.
The consonant letters(“C” below):
p/b/m/t/d/n/h/w/r/l/(q)
f/v(reciprocally marked)
s/z(reciprocally marked)
þ/ð(reciprocally marked)
k/c(reciprocally marked)
ȝ/j(reciprocally marked)
g(marked ȝ)
x(normally ks but gz before a stressed V; not on morpheme boundaries)
If the letter ȝ(yogh) is unavailable, ğ is used instead and the breves of cğ and word-final nğ are omitted(→cg/ng).
Open syllable lengthening:
When the first V(o/a/æ/e/ea/eo) of VCV is stressed, it is lengthened and the second one is silent.
Silent V:
When the word has more than one syllable, the unstressed V(u/o/a/e) at the end of the word is silent.
CwC_/CwCC/CjC/_CjCC:
When the letters w/j are in the position above, they are not C’s but V’s.
closed:
man>man: man
lamb: lamb
sang: sanȝ
assa>ass: assa
closed:
fæþm>fathom: fæðm
sæc>sack: sæk
sæt>sat: sæt
æt>at: æt
mæsse>mass: mæsse
weax>wax: weax
healf>half: healf(?)
hraþor>rather: hraðr(?)
gaderian>gather: gaðre
closed:
āscian>ask: aske
fǣt>fat: fæt
lǣstan>last: læsta
blēddre(blǣddre)>bladder: blæddre
brēmbel(brǣmbel)>bramble: bræmbel
closed
swan: swan
wascan>wash: wasca
wan>wan: wan
closed:
swæþ>swath: swæþ
wæsp>wasp: wæsp
closed:
wealwian>wallow: wealwe
swealwe>swallow: swealwe
cf.
sceadwe>shadow: sceadwe
wilgia(?)>willow: wilȝe(?)
sorg>sorrow: sòrȝ(?)
closed:
heard>hard: heard
ærc>ark: ærk
closed:
swearm>swarm: swearm
sweart>swart: sweart
weardian>ward: wearde
wearm>warm: wearm
wearnian>warn: wearne
closed:
smæl>small: smæll
all: all
walcian>walk: walke
tæl+-ra>taller: tællra
tæl+-est>tallest: tællest
cf.
talente/talentan>talent: tàllente/tàllenta
ælmesse>alms: ælmze
palma>palm: palma
closed:
glæs>glass: glæs
græs>grass: græs
pæþ>path: pæþ
æfter>after: æfter
āscian>ask: aske
lǣstan>last: læsta
fæder>father: fæðr(?)(fåðr?)
open:
nama>name: nama
nacod>naked: nakid
bacan>bake: baka
æcer>acre: æker
hwæl>whale: hwæle
hræfn>raven: hræven
open:
caru>care: karu
faran>fare: fara
starian>stare: stare
closed:
helpan>help: helpa
elh>elk: elh
tellan>tell: tella
betera>better: betra
streccan>stretch: strecca
closed:
seofon>seven: seovn
closed:
myrige>merry: mèrje
byrgan>bury: bèrja
lyft>left: left
cnyll>knell: knel
closed:
cēpte>kept: kepte
mētte>met: mette
bēcnan>beckon: bekna
clǣnsian>cleanse: klenze
flǣsc>flesh: flesc
lǣssa>less: lessa
frēond>friend: freond
þēofþ>theft: þeoft
hēold>heold
closed:
heorte>heart: heorte
bercan>bark: berka
teoru>tar: teor
steorra>star: steorra
closed:
werra>war: werra
werbler>warble: werble
eorl>irl
eorþe>earth: irþe
leornian>learn: lirne
hērde>heard: hirde
open:
specan>speak: speka
mete>meat: mete
beofor>beaver: beovor
meotan/metan>mete: meota/meta
eotan/etan>eat: eota/eta
meodu>mead: meodu
yfel>evel: evel/evil
open:
spere>speae: spere
mere: mere
open:
brecan>break: braka(?)
closed(?):
beoran>bear: bèor
pere/peru>pear: pèr/pèr
swerian>swear: swèr
wer>were-: wèr
closed:
leþer>leather: leðr
stede>stead: sted
weder>weather: weðr
heofon>heaven: heovn
hefig>heavy: hevj(?)
cf.
hæp+-ig>happy: hæppij(?)
writen>written: writen
sittan>sit: sitta
fisc>fish: fisc
lifer>liver: liver
brycg>bridge: brycȝ
cyssan>kiss: kyssa
dyde>did: dyde
syn>sin: syn
gyldan>gild: gylda
bysig>busy: byzij
wīsdōm>wisdom: wizdom
fīftig>fifty: fiftij
wȳscan>wish: wysca
cȳþþu>kith: kyþþu
fȳst>fist: fyst
cīcen>chicken: cikin
lȳtel>little: lytel
closed:
sēoc>sick: seeok(?)
wēoce>wick: weeok(?)
styrne>stern: styrne
gyrdan>gird: gyrda
fyrst>first: fyrst
styrian>stir: styre
cyrice>church: cyrce(?)
byrþen>burden: byrden
hyrdel>hurdle: hyrdel
wyrm>worm: wyrm
closed(?):
wicu>week: week(?)
pilian>peel: peel(?)
bitela>beetle: beetla(?)
closed:
god: god
begondan>beyond: bejónda
gōdspell>gospel: gospel
fōddor>fodder: foddor
fōstrian>foster: fostre
closed:
moþþe>moth: moþþe
cros>cross: kros
frost: frost
of>off: of
oft: oft
sōfte>soft: softe
closed:
corn: korn
storc: stork
storm: storm
bord>board: bord
closed:
folc>folk: folk
holm: holm
roll: rolle
cf.
solve: sòlve
doll: dòl
open:
fola>foal: fola
nosu>nose: nozu
ofer>over: over
open:
borian>bore: bore
fore: fore
buc>buck: buk
lufian>love: luve
uppe>up: uppe
on+bufan>above: abúva
bulk: bulk
mycel>much: muce
blyscan>blush: blusca
cycgel>cudgel: kucȝel
clyccan>clutch: klucca
scytel>shuttle: scutel
dūst>dust: dust
tūsc>tusk: tusk
rūst>rust: rust
full: fwl
bula>bull: bwl
bysc>bush: bwsc
closed:
word: word(?)
work/wurc>work: work/wurk(?)
werold/world>world: world(?)
wyrsa>worse: wyrsa
weorþ/worþ/wurþ>worth: worþ/wurþ(?)
brȳdguma>bridegroom: bryydgrooma/bryydgrwm
open(?):
duru>door: doru(?)
closed:
wudu>wood: wwd
āc>oak: aak
hāl>whole: haal
camb>comb: kaamb
ald>old: aald
haldan>hold: haalda
ār>oar: aar
māra>more: maare
bār>boar: baar
sār>sore: saar
hǣlan>heal: hææla
hǣtu>heat: hæætu
hwǣte>wheat: hwææte
open:
bēatan>beat: beeata(!)
lēaf>leaf: leeaf
cēap>cheap: ceeap
rǣran>rear: rææra
ēare>ear: eeare
sēar>sere: seear
sēarian>sear: seeare
closed(?):
grēat>great: grejt/greate(?)
closed(?):
ǣr>ere: èr(?)
closed:
brǣþ>breath: brææþ
swǣtan>sweat: swææt
sprǣdan>spread: sprææd
closed:
dēad>dead: deead
dēaþ>death: deeaþ
þrēat>threat: þreeat
rēad>red: reead
dēaf>deaf: def(?)
closed:
fēt>feet: feet
dēd>deed: deed
nēdl>needle: needl
closed:
dēop>deep: deeop
fēond>fiend: feeond
feld>field: feeld
geldan>yield: jeelda
closed:
hēr>here: heer
fēr>fear: feer
closed:
þēr>there: ðèr
hwēr>where: hwèr
closed:
bēor>beer: beeor
dēor>deer: deeor
open:
fēdan>feed: feda
grēdig>greedy: gredij
betwēonum>between: betwéonu
open:
hēran>hear: hera
dēore>dear: deore
stēran>steer: stera
rīdan>ride: riida
tīma>time: tiima
hwīt>white: hwiit
mīn>mine: miin
mȳs>mice: myys
brȳd>bride: bryyd
hȳdan>hide: hyyda
findan>find: fiind
cild>child: ciild
climban>climb: kliimba
mynd>mind: myynd
fȳr>fire: fyyr
hȳrian>hire: hyyre
wīr>wire: wiir
mōna>moon: moona
sōna>soon: soona
fōda>food: fooda(!)
dōn>do: doo
cēosan>choose: cooza(ceeoza?)
scēotan>shoot: scoota(sceeota?)
closed:
flōr>floor: flor
mōr>moor: moor/mor
blōd>blood: blood
mōdor>mother: mooðr
glōf>glove: gloov
closed:
gōd>good: gwd
bōc>book: bwk
lōcian>look: lwk
fōt>foot: fwt
mūs>mouse: muus
ūt>out: uut
hlūd>loud: hluud
gefunden: fuunde
hund>hound: huund
gesund>sound: suund
ūre>our: uure
scūr>shower: scuur
sūr>sour: suur
būtan>but: buta
strūtian>strute
dæg>day: dæj
mæg>may: mæj
mægden>maiden: mæjden
nægl>nail: næjl
fæger>fair: fæjr
clǣg>clay: klæj
græg>gray: græj
weg>way: wej
plegan>pleja
regn>rain: rejn
leger>lair: lejr
legde>laid: lejde
hēg>hay: hej
ēage>eye: eeaje
lēogan>lie: leeoja
flēoge/flȳge>fly: fleeoje/flyje
tigel>tile: tijl
lige>lie: lije
hīgian>hie: hije
ryge>rye: ryje
byge>buy: byje
drȳge>dry: dryje
clawu>claw: klawu
lagu>law: laȝu
dragan>draw: draȝa
audio: awdiaa
mǣw>mew: mææw
lǣwede>lewd: lææwde
scrēawa>shrew: screeawa
eowu>ewe: eowu
cēowan>chew: ceowa
hrēowan>rue: hreowa
blēow>blew: bleow
trēowþ>truth: treowþ
trēowe>true: treowe
hīw>hue: hiw
nīwe>new: niwe
Tīwesdæg>Tuesday: Tiwzdæj
flogen>flown: floȝen
grōwan>grow: grow
cf.
growing: growïng
fugol>fowl: fuȝol
slæht+-or>slaughter: slæwtor(?)
hlæhtor>laughter: hlæhtor/hleahtor(?)
streht>straight: streht
hēah>high: heeah
þēoh>thigh: þeeoh
nēh>nigh: neeh
riht>right: riht
flyht>flighr: flyht
lēoht>light: leeoht
dāg>dough: daaȝ
trog>trough: troȝ
āhte>ought: aahte
dohtor>daughter: dohtor
þōht>thought: þoht
sōhte>sought: sohte
bōg>bough: booȝ
plōg>plough: plooȝ
genōg/genōh>enough: enóoh(?)
tōh>tough: tooh(?)
ruh>rough: ruh(?)
Word-final open syllables:
mē>me: me(weak)/mee(strong)
wē/we>we: we(weak)/wee(strong)
hē/he>he: he(weak)/hee(strong)
bēon>be: beo(weak)/beeo(strong)
she: sce(weak)/scee(strong)
the: ðe(weak before V)/ðee(strong)/ð'(dropped before C)
tō>to: to(weak before V)/too(strong)/t'(dropped before C)
dōn>do: do(weak)/doo(strong)/d'(dropped)
cf.
þrēo>three: þreeo
trēo>tree: treeo
activité(French)>activity: aktíviti
activities: aktívitiz/aktívitjz
_CCV
cniht>knight: kniht
cnāwan>know: knaawa
gnætt>gnat: gnæt
gnagan>gnaw: gnaȝa
VCCCV:
morgen+-ing>morning: morgninȝ
VCC:
bēcnan>beckon: bekna
gerecenian>reckon: rekne
deorc+-nian>darken: deorkne
blæc+-nian>blacken: blækne
slæc+-nian>slacken: slækne
cwic/cwicu+-nian>quicken: kwikne
sēoc+-nian>sicken: seeokne
þicce+-nian>thicken: þikne
d/t between f/v/l/m/n/s/z/k/z is silent:
þīstel>thistle: þistl
bustle: bustl
castle: kastl
apostle: apóstl
fæstnian>fasten: fæstne
sōfte+-nian>soften: softne
landscape: landskape
pund+-as>pounds: puundz
Crīstes mæsse>Christmas: Kristmæsse
wilde+-līce>wildly: wiildli
hand+-sum>handsome: handsum
handkerchief: handkurcif/handkurceef(?)
oft>often: oftn/often(pronounced t)
waistcoate: wéjstkóte/westkot(?)
cf.
hlysnan>listen: hlysna
īgland>island: ijland
egg: eg
pig: pig
bag: bagge(?)
joy: cȝoj
judge: cȝucȝ
age: ejcȝ
ecg>edge: ecȝ
Japan: Cȝappán
Japanese: Cȝáppanéez
Englisc>English: Inglisc
finger: finger
gung>young: junȝ
long: lonȝ
long+-ra>longer: longra
long+-est: longest
singan: sinȝ
singan+-ere>singer: sinȝere
hangra>hanger(wood): hanȝra
hungor>hunger: hungor
accordingly: akkórdinȝli
language: langwicȝ
hālig>holy: haalij
sign: sijn
signal: signàl
gif>if: jif(if?)
gēse>yes: jes
gēotan>yet: jeot
yacht: jot
yahoo: jåhoo(?)
yiddish: jidisc(?)
sceolde>should: scwld(?)
would: wwld(?)
cf.
could: kwd
relax: reláx
relaxation: reelakséjscon
luxury: lukscuri(?)
exaggerate: exácȝeráte
xenon: zéenón/zénnón(?)
bōc+-as>books: bwks
loch: loq(?)
cats: kats
games: gamez
gates: gatus
lakes: lakus
potatoes: potéjtaaz
hiatus: hiiéjtus
taste: tejst
post: paast
ogre: oger
maple: mapel
able: abel
idea: iidía(RP)/iidéeä(GA)
butcher: bwcr(?)
rule: riwle
music: miwzik
university: iwnivérsiti
pasture: pastiwr
poor: pwr
pure: piwr(?)
sure: scwr(?)
pleasure: plezcwr(?)
prelude: preljoode(?)
cf.
ēow>you: eow
ēower>your: eowr