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I Semester, Middle English (1150 – 1500)

 

Normandy is a district extended to seventy five miles from the English Channel. It is situated on the Northern Coast of France. It derived its name from the bands of North men who settled in Normandy in the 9th and Tenth centuries. They conquered Britain in 1066. The Norman Conquest changed the whole course of English Language. 

French remained the language of the upper class in England for 200 Years after the Norman Conquest. At first those who spoke French were those of Norman origin, But soon through intermarriages and association with the ruling class, Numerous people of English must have found advantage to learn the new language. Due to that reason, French remained the language of upper class and English was treated as the language of masses.

As a matter of fact, Significant number of words of Norman Origin began to appear in English Language in the field of religion, administration, law, etc, during the early middle English Period (i,e from 1150 – 1300)

For Example:

1. Ecclesiastical Words.

i.Sermon

ii.Prayer

2. Rank or Class related words.

i.Clergy

ii.Vicar

iii.Hermit

3. Words related to religion.

i.Trinity

ii.Miracle

iii.Faith

 4. Words related to administration.

i.Government

ii.Crown

iii.Reign

5. Words related to Law.

i.Suit

ii.Advocate

iii.Imprison

6. Words related to Army

i.Peace

ii.Enemy

7. Words related to Arts & Literature.

i.painting

ii.Sculpture

8. Words related to Medicine.

i.Physician

ii.Surgeon

9. Words related to Fashion.

i.Apparel

ii.Frock

iii.Garment.

Influence of French / Norman was found in Grammar also. Genitives ended with ‘es’ or ‘s’, Comapritives and superlatives in Adjectives formed by adding ‘er’ and ‘est’, The pronoun ‘hine’ was replaced by ‘him’. During Middle English time silent letters were not pronounced much.

For Example: kinight was pronounced as /kniet/ with both /k/ and /g/ pronounced.

 In verbs, particularly in Tenses, Progressive form of the verbs were constructed and along with that to infinitives were used like ‘to go’, to jump’ etc.

 In 1348, Plague appeared in the South West of England and spread to Northern part of Britain in 1349. There was severe loss of life due to the effect of the Black Death and it also increased the economic importance of the laboring class. This importance marks the resurgence of English language again in Britain. Along with this, Lollard movement and the War of Roses made writers like John Wycliffe, Chaucer, etc, to write on the social background of the Britain from the 13th century to 15th century. They highlighted corruption at the religious places and the eruption of Civil War for the Throne of England.

Geoffrey Chaucer played a major role in the field of writing in the Middle English period. He wrote ‘The Canterbury Tales’. Geoffrey Chaucer was considered father of English Poetry for writing the Canterbury tales. John Wycliffe translated the Bible. After the death of Chaucer, most of the writers imitated the style of Chaucer in writing till 15th century. Geoffrey Chaucer chose London Dialect as the King’s English. He considered Midland dialect into national Language. He used three Principal meters named Ottava Rhyma, Heroic Couplet, Rhyma Royal (Chaucerian Stanza). His Book of Duchess has Ottava Rhyma Meter, the Prologue and Canterbury tales have heroic Couplet and Troilus and Cressyde has Rhyma Royal. The Meter ‘Rhyma Royal’ was invented by him.

An enlightened Merchant named William Caxton learned the art of Printing during his stay in the Low Countries. He set up the First Printing press in 1475 at West Minister. He printed more than 100 books in English language in East Midland Dialect. He translated the works of John Gower, Chaucer and Lydgate, etc, in Poetry. He also translated the Metrical romances into Prose and helped in the spread of education.

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