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The History of the English Language

The History of the English Language. (a not-too-ambitious powerpoint). Three Different Languages. Old English—mid- 5 th c. c.e.-1066 (survives as a “lower class” language for over a century more) Middle English (1066-1550) Modern English (1550-today)

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The History of the English Language

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  1. The History of the English Language (a not-too-ambitious powerpoint)

  2. Three Different Languages • OldEnglish—mid- 5th c. c.e.-1066 (survives as a “lower class” language for over a century more) • MiddleEnglish (1066-1550) • ModernEnglish (1550-today) • Many dialects of Old English and Middle English were spoken. • One “standard” modern English (printing press in England approx. 1470)

  3. Old English (Anglo-Saxon) • A Germanic language • 5th c. CE until 1066 CE • Conquered language spoken by lower class afterwards • Famous works include Beowulf

  4. First page of Beowulf manuscript

  5. “Caedmon’s Hymn” (first poem in English)--Old English alliterative (strong-stress) meter

  6. Middle English • 1066—Norman invasion • Upper class=French; lower class=Old English (Anglo-Saxon) • French + Anglo-Saxon + Latin = Middle English • Chaucer’s language

  7. The Prologue of The Canterbury Tales Whan that Aueryłł wt his shoures soote, The droghte of Marcħ, hath perced to the roote; And bathed euery veyne in swich lycour, Of which vertu engendred is the flour; Whan zephirus eek wt his sweete breeth, Inspired hath in euery holt and heeth; The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne, Hath in the Ram, his half cours yronne; And smale foweles, maken melodye, That slepen al the nyght with open iye; So priketh hem nature, in hir corages, Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrymages;

  8. Modern English (You speak this! No, really!) • Approx. 1550—The Great Vowel Shift • 1476—First printing press in England • Includes Shakespeare and us • Early Modern English (through mid-1600s) • Spelling and other conventions not standardized until 18th century (1755—Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary)

  9. Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary (1755) • Patron: n. One who countenances, supports or protects. Commonly a wretch who supports with insolence, and is repaid in flattery. • Lexicographer: n. a writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words • Oats: n. a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people • Monsieur: n. a term of reproach for a Frenchman

  10. The CanterburyTales—Geoffrey Chaucer • Late Middle Ages (bridges medieval and Renaissance)

  11. Geoffrey Chaucer • b. 1340-1344, d. 1400 • “upper middle class” (anyone who had a fairly decent income but wasn’t a nobleman)

  12. Chaucer’s career (greatly abbreviated) • 1357: page in household of Prince Lionel • 1359–60: w/ army ofEdward III in France • Studied law • Distant connections to Edward III and Richard II • Diplomat (Italy and France) • Comptroller • Clerk of the king’s works

  13. Geoff Chaucer

  14. Chaucer’s Influences • French courtly love models • Dante’s Divine Comedy (vernacular) • Bocaccio’s Decameron

  15. Courtly Love

  16. Chaucer’s Works • Patrons included John of Gaunt (Book of the Duchess) and Richard II • No evidence that The Canterbury Tales was commissioned—it seems to have been his own project

  17. The Story • 30 people (including the Host) meet at The Tabard (an inn). • Chaucer (the narrator) is one of them. • They are going on pilgrimage to Canterbury (home of martyr, Thomas a Beckett). (This makes them pilgrims.) • The host proposes to ride with them—each will tell two stories on the way there and two on the way back • The best story wins!

  18. More Canterbury Tales info • Unfinished • Fragmentary (w/ textual and historical clues as to the order of some pieces)

  19. The Canterbury Tales is medieval • very concerned with heaven and the after-life • Heavily allegorical • Stereotypes • The journey as allegory?

  20. The Renaissance in England • The rise of the middle class=concern w/ more material things • Weren’t serfs and therefore could attain things • Greater emphasis on the behavior of human beings (humanism) • Canterbury Tales = end of medieval, beginning of Renaissance

  21. The Canterbury Tales is Renaissance • Critique of the church and government • Realistic personalities and motivations (psychological element): • the loudmouthed woman, • the nun who cares too much for appearances, • the bawdy, beer-drinking miller, • the starving student (types, but believable types)

  22. The Prologue • What is the tone? (What words lead to that tone?) • Pilgrimage in April—Why are they going on a pilgrimage? • The Knight—what do we know about him? • With a partner—You will be assigned a character. What does Chaucer say about that character? What does Chaucer REALLY say about the character?

  23. The allegory (maybe) • All types traveling together to the holiest place in England • All on the road to heaven together • Glorifies England—all things are held w/in England • Chaucer’s death before finishing—do they get there? (presumably, but we don’t know for sure)

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