A tool or resource that facilitates the conversion of text from Old English (also known as Anglo-Saxon), the language spoken in England and southern Scotland roughly from the 5th to the 12th centuries, into contemporary English. For example, Old English “Hwt! W Gr-Dena in gerdagum, odcyninga, rym gefrnon” might be rendered as “Listen! We have heard of the glory of the Spear-Danes in old days, the kings of tribes” in Modern English.
Such conversion aids comprehension of historical texts like Beowulf, religious writings, and legal documents originally composed in the Anglo-Saxon period. By providing accessible versions, it permits wider engagement with a foundational period of English language and culture, and enables historical research without requiring specialized linguistic knowledge. Access to translated materials allows for a more complete understanding of societal values, beliefs, and literary traditions of early England.
