MIDDLE ENGLISH DIALECTS

 

* The Norman conquest  of England in 1066 traditionally signifies the beginning of 200 years of domination of French in English letters.

 

* The Native tradition survived . But little 13th century and even less 12th century, vernacular literature is extent as most was transmitted orally.

Flowering of literature in different dialects. Once they started writing in English it was in different dialects.

 

* Continental verse forms based on metrics and rhyme replaced the Anglosaxon alliterative line in Middle English poetry (with the importante exception of the 14th century alliterative revival: the parl, Sir Gamain and the green knight, Piers Plowman, Morte Arthur)

 

* 14th century beginning of standard with Chaucer and the Introduction fo the Printing Press.

            Prologue by Caxton (who started the printing press in England) with Chaucer.

                                               important in standarization of English

                        --> Since there wasnt any wind the sailors set out for refreshments [mete: food: specialisation] he asks for eggys but the woman says

                        she didnt speak french...he wants eyren...oh I understand you well.

                                                2 English people speaking English but they dont understand each other (North-South)

                                                                       Velirised forms_northern/palatalisation_southern

[Chaucer’s choices changed English] see Caxton’s Prologue

 

OLD ENGLISH TO MIDDLE ENGLISH

Internal history

* The Old English we generally study is a kind of standard, elaborated on the basis of the one of the dialects spoken at the time (West Saxon) plus the addition of grammatical, syntactic & lexical features from other dialects.

 

* Different dialects spoken depended on where each germanic tribe settled (heptarchy map)

            --> different dialects depend on who settled where (holland germany)

 

OLD ENGLISH PERIODS

* Pre Old English (449/450-700) ........written records

* Early Old English (700-900) use of a literary dialect (west saxon) made important by King Alfred and his collaborators

* Old English proper (900-1150)

 

LINGUISTIC SITUATION OF OLD ENGLISH PERIOD

A) Anglian: north of River Thames

            --> 1 Northumbria: north of river Humber

            --> 2 Mercian: between Humber and hames

B) Kentish: the south-east of England

C) WestSaxon: south west of England

 

*SAXONS AND JUTES ARRIVED AT ABOUT 450