THE MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD General characteristics Introduction 1066

THE MIDDLE ENGLISH PERIOD General characteristics

Introduction 1066 - the beginning of a new social and linguistic era Middle English runs from the beginning of the 12 th century until the middle if the 15 th the Chancery Standard the 1470 s - the printing press introduced in England by William Caxton

Historical background THE SECOND DANISH INVASION ETHELRED CNUT The council of wise men chose Edward (the Confessor)

King Edward (aka the Confessor) Spent half his life in exile in Normandy (northern France) (while Cnut and sons ruled England) Placed Norman friends in high offices in England Had little interest in ruling the country Moved the capital from Winchester to London Died in 1066, leaving no children and no clear choice of heir

Harold the Battle of Hastings

The influence of Scandinavian invasion and Norman conquest. English and Scandinavian - related languages, diverged only a few hundred years before a pidgin variety of speech William of Normandy’s accession French-speaking barons brought over their own retinues French-speaking abbots and bishops

Diglossia, triglossia condition of a multilingual society in which different languages occupy different social niches - different functions:

French ‘High’ functions: ‘high’ culture: government, law, religion, education, literature, science, the arts, ‘high society’ English ‘Low’ functions: ‘common folk’: home speech, folk/popular songs, tales, everyday commerce

1. 2. 3. Language effects of the Scandinavian invasion. Language effects of the Norman Conquest. Middle English dialects.

Middle English dialects South Western South Eastern Northern West Midland East Midland

Formation of the National Language King John of England King Philip of France the Hundred Years War (1337 -1453)