English language Unit 2

Topic 1: Middle English

 Learning Intentions
• Develop an understanding of the historical development of English during the Middle
English period and social factors influencing language change: Norman conquest,
Wycliffe’s bible, William Caxton, decline of French influences.
• Understand how the English language is now different from Old English- the linguistic
features.
Success Criteria:
• Identify features of Middle English in a text.
• Answer skill questions by explaining the social and cultural factors that bring about
changes and the linguistic impact
Plotting the history of the language
 Middle English: 1050AD-1450AD
This marks the beginning of a new social linguistic era. However, effects of
the social changes do not appear until much later. (Page 20-21, 30)
Manuscripts give the impression of linguistic variety.
• 1066 AD: Normal conquest: Social, economic, legal and political changes Anglo-
Saxon defeated and replaced by Norman French Earls & Knights: Official courts,
aristocracy ruling class.
• Gradual decay of Anglo-Saxon traditions and literary practices
• Emergence of French and Latin literacy
 Middle English. 1050AD-1450AD
French: the language of class and culture (page 30)
• No Englishmen was an Earl or Bishop (position of power)
• Abundance of aristocrats ensured wealth and land; French
was established in the corridors of power- French speaking The mixture of French and English,
• Influx in French vocabulary: 10,000 words.
abbots and bishops. Religious houses were under French
• Words of French origin tend to be more refined
speaking superiors.
• Large number of French merchants and craftsmen crossed the and elegant: Premier vs. first
• Reduction of Old English inflections (that
Channel- take advantage of commercial opportunities
• Emergence of French and Latin literacy. (Education, showed relationships with other words, subject/
literature) object of verbs, gender, plurality) as word order
• Latin and French was used for legal purposes and church becomes more fixed
• There was still no agreed system of spelling,
ceremonies: Within 20 years, almost all religious houses
under French speaking superiors range of spelling variants in a single manuscript-
• English remained as spoken language for masses of peasants: depending on region/ accent
• Grammatical inflections: affixes such as : con-,
indicator of class-
• Intermarriage and trade: bilingualism quickly flourished trans-, pre-, -ance, -tion, -ment.
• OE words became archaic
among those who cross the social divide. English learning
French to gain advantages from aristocracy, and French who
learnt English as part of daily contact with locals.
 Middle English: 1050AD-1450AD
12th Century: Why does English survive? (page 30)
• Intermarriage and dwelling together: By end of this century, accounts suggests some
children of nobility spoke English as mother tongue, had to be taught French.
• French: Parliament, courts and public proceedings- but translation into English increased
in frequency.
• From 1204 AD a different political climate emerged: Status of French declined:
English nobility lost estate in France (conflict) and led to the Hundred Years War (1337-
1453)
• Antagonism grew between two countries. Spirit of English nationalism grew while
status of French diminished.
Nonetheless was a dark time for the language: documents suggest- French
was language of government, law, literature and Church
 Why does English survive?
• It was too well established to be
supplanted by another language and
remained language of the masses and
rural areas.
• Unlike the Celtic language, English
had considerable written literature and
a strong oral tradition
• It would have taken several hundred
years of immigration: Norman
population and immigration: 2%
(good relation only lasted 150 years)
• King Henry 1V+ V: recognized that to
unite a common language or standard
was needed.
Why does French influence decline? (Page 19)
• Black death + Peasants’ revolt in 1381: labor shortages led to the
demand for higher wages
• Challenging authority of government and religion
• Late ME (King Henry IV, V): needed a common language (regional
dialects varied greatly, travellers struggled to understand). Change
language of Parliament:
• 1362AD: English establishes within the bodies of law- used for the
first time at the opening of Parliament;
• Towards the end of this period, English replaces Latin as the
language of instruction (schools) except Oxford.
• 1384AD: First publication of the bible in English (John Wycliffe).
Latin vocabulary dominated during the M.E period, words
that were professional or technical: law, medicine and
literature.
Such borrowings were attempts to produce ‘high’ style and
considered as prestigious.
 Middle English: Influential Figures
During the fourteenth and fifteenth century, the movement was under
way to force English into a central place in society.
• It was with the church that the English Language had its most violent struggle.
• During that time, Latin was the language of God..... who at that time controlled and
pervaded all aspects of earthly life.
• The central power of words in the fourteenth and fifteenth century England lay in the
bible.

Read the following. How did they impact the state of the language?
• Wycliff’s bible- p. 22-23
• Chaucer and the Canterbury tales- p. 23-25
Middle English: John Wycliffe
 Middle English: John Wycliffe
The prime mover in the fourteenth century was a
scholar, John Wycliffe. (Page 22-23)
• He inspired two biblical translations in 1384. More than 250
manuscripts still survives (They were all hand written).
• Low levels of literacy: few people were versed in Latin to study
the bible.
• Wycliffe and followers: disenchanted by church believing it was
corrupted by wealth and power. Believed that everyone should
have access to Christian teachings in their own language; make
bible accessible to the English people.
• After his death, despite being condemned by the church, his
translations continued to be produced and circulated- even when it
became a mortal crime to possess one.
• Latin borrowings into Bible translations, Over 1000 words,
Common idioms: ‘woe is me’ and ‘an eye for an eye’
 Middle English: Geoffrey Chaucer
1343-1400 Chaucer: ‘Canterbury Tales’ (P. 23-25) Contrasts in stories: clear snapshot
• Collection of over 20 stories of English life; explores the
• Tales/story telling context by a group of pilgrims that
travel together- unprecedented diverse collection
language and dialects of the
• The prize is a meal at a tavern pilgrims:

Tailored his language to mimic everyday story telling:
exposed language and literature to the masses: written
to be read aloud.
• Skilful story telling of grounded observations of
England
• It popularised the literary use of vernacular English
• Period of French influence: 20-25 percent of his
vocabulary is from French, but predominantly English
• High use of function words
Attempts to replicate Northern
dialect and less familiar
colloquialism and vocabulary, some
words borrowed form French and
Latin.
Check out:
https://www.ilovelanguages.com/how-did-geoff
rey-chaucer-change-the-english-language/
Middle English: Geoffrey Chaucer
 Middle English: Great Vowel Shift
1400AD: Great Vowel shift: Biggest difference in English
across the periods is how it is pronounced. The great vowel
shift marked the transition from to the next period.
• Loss of a large number of inflections but there was still no
agreed system of spelling.
• Range of different spellings were greater than the O.E
period.
• In addition the Scandinavian influences were not felt until
the 13th century
Just as English was trying to sort itself out, another
challenge entered:
• Sounds of ME is foreign;
• 200 years between signifies a radical transformation in the
written and spoken language.
• 7 vowels that shifted
• Ensure adequate space between sounds to differentiate it
from different words
 Middle English: Language Features
To analyse passages of this time, you must be
able to find the following:
• French invasion: 10,000 loan words.
• French written conventions: shift in word order therefore
a reduction in O.E inflections.
• Affixes such as: -ment, -tion, -en, -ity, -ance, ex-, con- etc..
• ‘-ing’ inflection appears as: ‘-and(e), ‘-end (e), ‘-ind (e)’
and ‘-ing’ elsewhere.
• Plural ending ‘-es’ appears as ‘-eth’ in Southern and West
areas and ‘-en’ elsewhere
• They, their and them found in North appear as his, here
and hem in South.
• Shall, should and few other sometimes appear without ‘h’
• Other affixes:-ed/ -es/-s
Spelling was not standardised:
• cw- qu and g- gh
• /w/= v or u or uu [13th century- ‘w’]
Long vowels marked by silent ‘e’: hope, yoke,
nose, rude, rule, home
• We see it preceding ‘a’ or ‘i’: wife, like,
mile, tale, gate, side, mice
• French preferred to double the letters: tree,
sweet, sleep, seed, foot, good, blood
• Avoided doubling ‘aa’ or ‘ee’: name, tale
Short vowels: 12th century were signified by
double consonant:
• ill, spell, upp, purr, dogg, catt, mess, cliff,
skull, mess, doll.
Middle English: What does it sound like?
Go to reading resource page 28:
o /u/ symbolised by lower case ‘v’
o Plural endings are evident such as '-is' in 'almondis‘
replaces earlier forms. This was the result of…..
o French spelling and writing conventions were
borrowed into the English language:
o Long vowels are marked by a silent 'e' such as in
'while‘ and ‘time’
o Double letters in words for long vowels (maad)
o Short vowels marked by double consonants: e.g.,
bittir
o Function words such as ‘determiners’ as word order
becomes more fixed.
o However, O.E inflections still remained: ‘Mannes’:
Genitive form
o Oile: ‘e’ could mark dative noun (indirect object)??
 Answer the following
Question 2: Page 113 (Love Lingo)
• Identify features of this time period
Question 3: Middle English: Chaucer Text- page 22 (Reading resource)
• Identify the differences between the Middle English text and Modern English translations
• Identify and explain why this is a Middle English text.
Question 4: Explain the impact that French/ Norman Conquest had upon the English
language. Consider the social, historical and linguistic factors.
Question 5: Describe how figures such as Chaucer and Wycliffe influenced the upheaval
during this time?
Question 6: Despite the dominant presence of French and Latin, how did English survive?
Question 2: Love Lingo Text
Old Middle Modern
English English English

feax heeris hair

ele oile oil

7 & and

sie is is

se Þe the

fealle falliÞ falls

Þonne Þan then

mid wiÞ with

baÞe baÞ bath

 Question 2: Love Lingo Text
Middle English Modern English • /u/ symbolised by lower case ‘v’
Whanne When
• Plural endings are evident such as '-is' in 'almondis‘
Mannes Man’s
replaces earlier forms. This was the result of…..
Heeris hair
falliþ Falls • French spelling and writing conventions were borrowed
Awei Away into the English language:
Vnkyndeli Unkindly • Long vowels are marked by a silent 'e' such as in 'while‘
Tyme Time and ‘time’
Þe The • Double letters in words for long vowels (maad)
Þan Then
Baþ Bath • Short vowels marked by double consonants: e.g., bittir
Anoynte Anoint • More function words such as ‘determiners’ as word order
Wiþ With becomes more fixed.
Bittir Bitter
• However, O.E inflections still remained: ‘Mannes’:
Oile Oil
Genitive form
Maad Made
Þerof Therefrom • Oile: ‘e’ could mark dative noun (indirect object)
 Answer the following
Question 4: Explain how the French influenced the English language. (2 marks)

Explain: Focus: French Influence

• Identify key events or changes • Social changes: government, class, education,
• Outline impact on…. documents
• Language: decline in OE structures and traditions,
borrows and use of French conventions
 Question 4: Edit this response
Describe how the French influenced the English language. (2 marks)

The French took over and because a lot of people spoke French, many French
language features came into the language. French dominated in many areas of
society so it was extremely powerful.

These are the following examples of language features: spelling, words and
changes from Old English also begin to appear.

How can this response improve?

 Question 4: Sample Response
Describe how the French influenced the English language. (The social)

Anglo- Saxons were defeated and replaced by Norman French Earls & Knights. An abundance of aristocrats
ensured wealth and land, which led to the emergence of French literacy and education and a French aristocracy
ruling class and official courts. Within 20 years, almost all religious houses under French speaking superiors and
as a result literary activity in English declined. (Additionally, no Englishmen were appointed a position of power
such as an Earl or Bishop).

With the Norman conquest, French was introduced into the English lexicon, and primarily carried social and
cultural prestige. English survived the injection of a new language primarily due to intermarriage and the fact that
it remained the language of the common people and was widely used both in written and spoken modes. Although
Latin and Norman French was widely used, Latin remained the principal language of religion and learning, whilst
French was used primarily by the aristocracy and churchmen. English speakers had an overwhelming demographic
advantage and were not going to stop speaking their native tongue because of a foreign invasion.
 Question 4 whole outline
Following William of Normandy’s accession, French was rapidly established in the corridors of power.
• English nobility was replaced by Norman French Earls & Knights and large numbers of French merchants and craftsmen
crossed the Channel to take advantage of commercial opportunities.
• An abundance of aristocrats ensured wealth and land, which led to the emergence of French literacy and education and a
French aristocracy ruling class and official courts.
• Within 20 years, almost all religious houses under French speaking superiors.
• As a result, literary activity in English declined, to such an extent that when it returns to general use in the 14 th century,
much of the Old English writing habits were quite forgotten. (Linguistic features….)

As a result, (linguistic changes)…..

• Influx in French vocabulary: 10,000 words in which words of French origin were viewed as more refined and elegant:
Premier vs. first
• A reduction of Old English inflections (that showed relationships with other words, subject/ object of verbs, gender,
plurality) as word order becomes more fixed
• Writers adopted French conventions using ,’qu-’ instead of ‘cw-’, new spellings and sounds were adopted as a result.
• Grammatical inflections: affixes such as : con-, trans-, pre-, -ance, -tion, -ment.
However, the decline of written English with its replacement of Latin and French in official documents was not as
swift as supposed. Some records were still being made in English almost a century after the Conquest.
 Answer the following
Question 5: Explain the influence Geoffrey Chaucer had on the development of the English
language. (2 marks)

Key Points:
• Tailored his language to mimic everyday story telling: exposed language and literature to the masses:
written to be read aloud.
• Skilful story telling of grounded observations of England
• It popularised the literary use of vernacular English
• Period of French influence: 20-25 percent of his vocabulary is from French, but predominantly English
• High use of function words
• Contrasts in stories: clear snapshot of English life; explores the language and dialects of the pilgrims:
• Attempts to replicate Northern dialect and less familiar colloquialism and vocabulary, some words borrowed
form French and Latin.
 Question 3: Key Skill Sample
Geoffrey Chaucer’s writing popularised the literary use of vernacular English as he
tailored his language to mimic everyday story-telling, thereby exposing the language and
literature to the masses.
His skilful story telling of observations of England presented snapshots of English life
and the language and dialects of the pilgrims, such as replicating the Northern dialect and
less familiar colloquialism and vocabulary.
Chaucer ultimately advocated the relevance of the English language among the lower
class and every-day people of England.
 Answer the following
Question 6: Despite the dominant presence of French and Latin, explain how
did English survive? (3 marks)

Explain Focus: How it survives:

• Identify key events or
changes
• Outline impact on….
• Social changes: intermarriages (12th century),
• Rise in nationalism as a result of conflict/ demand
for higher wages
• unification through a common language –
parliament/ literature/education
 Question 6: Whole outline
Status of and influence of the French began to decline as the English people continued to challenge the authority of the government and church.
• During the 12th century, intermarriages between the French and English people by end of this century, accounts suggest that some children of nobility
spoke English as their mother tongue.
• From 1204, the political climate changed. The Kings of England and France came into conflict and as a result, the government sought to unify the
people and recognised that a common language was needed. This resulted in the change of language in Parliament from French to English in 1362.
• While the hundred-year wars (causes) gave way to feelings of the resentment of paying homage to the French kings, and fear of the increasing control
exerted by the French crown led to antagonism between the two countries. The spirit of English nationalism grew while status of French diminished.
• Status of and influence of the French began to decline as the English people continued to challenge the authority of the government and church. As a
result, during the Late Middle English period, the government sought to unify the people and recognised that a common language was needed. This
resulted in the change of language in Parliament from French to English.
• Additionally, the language was too well established to be supplanted by another language due to the strong oral tradition and considerable amount of
written literature therefore it remained the language of the masses and rural areas.
• Towards the end of this period, English replaces Latin as the language of instruction (schools) except Oxford. This change signifies the need for
linguistic unity in the face of political and social upheaval as well as the decline in French and Latin literacy.
• Position of English becomes clearer in 13 th Century with an increase in English sermons, prayers, songs and other documents and finally the
achievements in the 14th century Middle English literature: Geoffrey Chaucer
• Historians estimate only 2% of total population were French, therefore, to significantly shift the English language would require hundreds of years of
French immigration and large number of immigrants
 Middle English: Extra Question
When did English replace Latin as the language of instruction? What does
this signify about the English language
• Towards the end of this period, English replaces Latin as the language of instruction
(schools) except Oxford. Prior to this change, Latin vocabulary dominated during the M.E
period, words that were professional or technical within the field of law, medicine and
literature. Such borrowings were attempts to produce ‘high’ style and considered as
prestigious in comparison to the unruly English.
• This change signifies the need for linguistic unity in the face of political and social
upheaval as well as the decline in French and Latin literacy.