The English Language

by R. G. Latham

Celtic elements probably considerable.

Worcestershire.—The language of the Anglo-Saxon period is characterized by the exclusive, or nearly exclusive, use of s in the forms usse and usses for ure and ures. See Codex Diplomaticus, Nos. 95 and 97.

The affiliation of the present dialect has yet to be investigated.

North Glostershire.—Politically, both North Gloster and Worcestershire are Mercian rather than West-Saxon.

Now the language of Layamon was North Gloster.

And one at least of the MSS. is supposed to represent this language.

Nevertheless its character is said to be West Saxon rather than Mercian.

What does this prove? Not that the West Saxon dialect

extended into Mercia, but that a political nomenclature is out of place in philology.

The Welsh frontier.—Herefordshire, &c.—Celtic elements. General character of the dialects, probably, that of the counties immediately to the east of them.