Wit, unker, git: The lost medieval pronouns of English intimacy

The evolution of the English language is fascinating to me. When I look at old english its hard to believe the language we speak to day used to sound that way.

In the Beowulf, the dual makes a dramatic appearance: two warriors swim in the sea holding swords, "to defend the two of us against whales" ("wit unc wið hronfixas werian" in the original). Thought to be written in the 8th Century, Beowulf is the earliest European epic written in the vernacular – the language commonly spoken – rather than a high culture, or literary language.