As a Norwegian having lived in English-speaking countries for many years, I find the conclusion plausible, but the evidence lacking.
We do share a lot of the same rules for word order as English. There are, however, notable exceptions.
For instance, if the sentence starts with another word than the subject, then we swap subject and verb.
If we ask a question, then we start with the verb. Of course, this is done with 'to do' in English, and there's a nice, archaic sound to it if one simply place the verb first ("Went you to the store?").
In the sagas it is written that at some point earlier in history, the vikings and the inhabitants of Great Britain (the island) understood each other.
With all the wars, conquests and migrations done by people of a similar language, it is hardly strange that one cannot pinpoint exactly what English is. At the time, one may summarize the situation that the Norwegians and Danes were organized(1), as well as the Normans, whereas the inhabitants of Great Britain were less so. The language of power, the courts and records will disproportionately influence the common language.
1) Organized in the sense that they had picked up how to maintain power from the remnants of the Roman empire. Vikings used, among other things, to serve as the imperial guard of Constantinople.
edit: removed an asterisk that caused formatting changes
We do share a lot of the same rules for word order as English. There are, however, notable exceptions.
For instance, if the sentence starts with another word than the subject, then we swap subject and verb.
If we ask a question, then we start with the verb. Of course, this is done with 'to do' in English, and there's a nice, archaic sound to it if one simply place the verb first ("Went you to the store?").
In the sagas it is written that at some point earlier in history, the vikings and the inhabitants of Great Britain (the island) understood each other.
With all the wars, conquests and migrations done by people of a similar language, it is hardly strange that one cannot pinpoint exactly what English is. At the time, one may summarize the situation that the Norwegians and Danes were organized(1), as well as the Normans, whereas the inhabitants of Great Britain were less so. The language of power, the courts and records will disproportionately influence the common language.
1) Organized in the sense that they had picked up how to maintain power from the remnants of the Roman empire. Vikings used, among other things, to serve as the imperial guard of Constantinople.
edit: removed an asterisk that caused formatting changes