I don't know what you mean by iambic--I have a terrible ear for those kinds of poetry.
The strong initial stress is a Common Germanic thing that Anglo-Saxon did have, even more markedly than modern English. That may be what you're noticing.
The peculiarity of English, rhythmically speaking, that learners usually have trouble with is the flexible rhythm--the rule that in general a clause takes the same amount of time to say even if one adds extra syllables to it. Whereas other languages have the words marching along in a much more predictable rhythm. Anglo-Saxon poetry demonstrates that to a certain extent--and a greater extent than alliterative poetry in other Germanic languages based on the same principles. But it could also derive from fitting in all the little function words from Norman French. Likely the tendency was exacerbated after the Old English period.
(no subject)
The strong initial stress is a Common Germanic thing that Anglo-Saxon did have, even more markedly than modern English. That may be what you're noticing.
The peculiarity of English, rhythmically speaking, that learners usually have trouble with is the flexible rhythm--the rule that in general a clause takes the same amount of time to say even if one adds extra syllables to it. Whereas other languages have the words marching along in a much more predictable rhythm. Anglo-Saxon poetry demonstrates that to a certain extent--and a greater extent than alliterative poetry in other Germanic languages based on the same principles. But it could also derive from fitting in all the little function words from Norman French. Likely the tendency was exacerbated after the Old English period.
M