MIDDLE ENGLISH

INTRODUCTION For three centuries, there was no single form of English recognized as a norm, and people wrote in the language of their own region. Early Middle English texts give the impression of a mixture of dialects, without many common conventions in pronunciation or spelling, and in grammar and phonology. For three centuries, there was no single form of English recognized as a norm, and people wrote in the language of their own region. Early Middle English texts give the impression of a mixture of dialects, without many common conventions in pronunciation or spelling, and in grammar and phonology.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Middle English Period 11th Cent: NORMAN CONQUEST 11th Cent: NORMAN CONQUEST English is no longer a writen language English is no longer a writen language English ceased to be the language of the governing classes English ceased to be the language of the governing classes

The Middle English Period 12th Cent: TRILINGUAL ENGLAND 12th Cent: TRILINGUAL ENGLAND FRENH: Literacyand court tongue FRENH: Literacyand court tongue LATIN: Church and legal documents LATIN: Church and legal documents ENGLISH: Common intercourse ENGLISH: Common intercourse

The Middle English Period 13th Cent: LOSS OF NORMANDY 13th Cent: LOSS OF NORMANDY FRENCH: A foreign tongue FRENCH: A foreign tongue Nobility educate their Nobility educate their children in English

The Middle English Period 14th Cent: THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR 14th Cent: THE HUNDRED YEARS’ WAR THE BLACK DEATH THE BLACK DEATH ENGLISH was reinstated ENGLISH was reinstated in schools Parliament was reopened Parliament was reopened in English

The Middle English Period 15th Cent: ENGLISH IS THE 15th Cent: ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE COURT

FRENCH INFLUENCE

The Norman Conquest of 1066 had a profound influence in the English Language. For some centuries, English ceased to be the language of the governing classes. The Norman Conquest of 1066 had a profound influence in the English Language. For some centuries, English ceased to be the language of the governing classes. French became the language of the upper classes in England simply because it was the language of the conquerors. French became the language of the upper classes in England simply because it was the language of the conquerors. The native aristocracy was destroyed, the church and education were also dominated by them, so French was the language of aristocracy and the court, and anybody who wanted to get in the world, had to learn French The native aristocracy was destroyed, the church and education were also dominated by them, so French was the language of aristocracy and the court, and anybody who wanted to get in the world, had to learn French

FRENCH INFLUENCE While English was left without a standard literary dialect, the prestige languages in England were Latin and French. Latin was the language of the church, of scholarship, and of international communication, but it gradually gave way to french. While English was left without a standard literary dialect, the prestige languages in England were Latin and French. Latin was the language of the church, of scholarship, and of international communication, but it gradually gave way to french. In the 13th century, French was stiil being spoken at the English court, and literature was being written in French for the nobility of England. However, it was never the mother tongue of the majority of the population In the 13th century, French was stiil being spoken at the English court, and literature was being written in French for the nobility of England. However, it was never the mother tongue of the majority of the population

FRENCH LOAN WORDS French left its mark on English. Its main effect was on the vocabulary, with the introduction of a number of French-loan words into the language. French left its mark on English. Its main effect was on the vocabulary, with the introduction of a number of French-loan words into the language. Many of the French loan words reflect cultral and political dominance. French words were entirely new ones, with no obvious resemblance to anything in English. Many of the French loan words reflect cultral and political dominance. French words were entirely new ones, with no obvious resemblance to anything in English.

FRENCH LOAN WORDS LAW AND GOVERNMENT Government-country- parliament-court-judge- jury-crime-prison CHURCH Abbot-frier-prayer priest- religion-saint NOBILITY Baron/ess-count/ess- prince/ss-noble-royal MILITARY Army-battle-enemy- sergeant-soldier-

FRENCH LOAN WORDS COOKINGBeef-boil-salmon-fry-pork-veal CULTURE AND LUXURY GOODS Art-bracelet-painting-sculture- diamond-jewl-dance-clarinet LEARNINGGeometry-noun-paper-pen-grammar OTHERS Adventure-courage-fruit-letter- literature-male-female-mirror

FRENCH LOAN WORDS Things connected with ordinary people tend to retain their English names, whereas upper-class objects often have French names. Things connected with ordinary people tend to retain their English names, whereas upper-class objects often have French names. English French Home/house -Manor/palace Home/house -Manor/palace Child/daughter/son- Heir Child/daughter/son- Heir Smell -Odour Smell -Odour Ask -Demand Ask -Demand Answer -Reply Answer -Reply

MIDDLE ENGLISH DIALECTS

For three centuries there was no single form of English recognized as norm. Early Middle English texts give the impression of a mixture of dialects without common conventions in pronunciation or spelling and in grammar and phonology For three centuries there was no single form of English recognized as norm. Early Middle English texts give the impression of a mixture of dialects without common conventions in pronunciation or spelling and in grammar and phonology

MIDDLE ENGLISH DIALECTS There were a number of dialects features which were typical of different regions. The regions are : There were a number of dialects features which were typical of different regions. The regions are : Northern (Scots and Northern English) Northern (Scots and Northern English) East Middland East Middland West Middland West Middland South Eastern South Eastern Southern Southern

THE USE OF STANDARD ENGLILSH

STANDARD ENGLISH An event which contributed to the triumph of Engish was king John’s loss of Normandy to the French crown. Moreover a national feeling was begining to arise in England which must have raised the prestige of the English language An event which contributed to the triumph of Engish was king John’s loss of Normandy to the French crown. Moreover a national feeling was begining to arise in England which must have raised the prestige of the English language The 14th century sees the definitive triumph of English The 14th century sees the definitive triumph of English

STANDARD ENGLISH With the re-establishment of English as the language of administration and culture, came the re-establishment of an English literary language With the re-establishment of English as the language of administration and culture, came the re-establishment of an English literary language London language grew, and inthe15th century, its infuence was increased bythe introduction of printing. In the 16th century, there was recognition ofthelanguageof the Court as the t”best” English. London language grew, and inthe15th century, its infuence was increased bythe introduction of printing. In the 16th century, there was recognition ofthelanguageof the Court as the t”best” English. The literary language had been standardized by theend ofthe 15 century The literary language had been standardized by theend ofthe 15 century

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LANGUAGE

GRAMMAR AND SYNTAX The plural /s/ and /es/ were universals in the north while /n/ and /en/ were favoured in the south. In the end the /s/ plural triumphed. The plural /s/ and /es/ were universals in the north while /n/ and /en/ were favoured in the south. In the end the /s/ plural triumphed. The different article forms gave way to /the/ The different article forms gave way to /the/ The pronouns /he-here-hem/ were replaced by /they-their-them/ The pronouns /he-here-hem/ were replaced by /they-their-them/

The /s/ genitive survived well but there started a new mode of indicatingpossesion with “of” The /s/ genitive survived well but there started a new mode of indicatingpossesion with “of” In questions there were a gradual development of auxiliaries /do-did/ In questions there were a gradual development of auxiliaries /do-did/ The relative pronoun was often ommited. The relative pronoun was often ommited. The pronouns /who-which-that/ emerged though not yet specialized as in Modern English The pronouns /who-which-that/ emerged though not yet specialized as in Modern English