
English in the Middle Ages
Editor(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 1. July 2003
Book
Hardback
216 pages
978-0-19-926268-7 (ISBN)
Description
This is an enquiry into the use and status of English in medieval England. It is concerned with English relative to French and Latin and with its regional and social varieties in relation to each other. It considers how people then viewed language and how their notion of the significance of English influenced the way they used it. Professor Machan argues that some linguistic, literary, and historical interpretations of medieval statements on language have taken insufficient consideration of the circumstances and discursive practices which produced them. He suggests that modern linguistic attitudes and expectations can obscure specifically medieval qualities of the status of English and the uses to which it was put. In the process he brings to bear a wide range of documentary evidence, notably the royal letters issued in 1258 prior to the Baron's War and medieval diglossia. In his discussion of regional variation, he considers chronicles, poems, and commentaries including the language spoken by Chaucer's pilgrims; conversations in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; and post-medieval transformations of the status of English in law, literature, and education.The book will interest scholars from a range of disciplines - particularly linguistics, literature, and history - and is written in clear, non-technical language.
Reviews / Votes
This is an important book that breaks new ground ... rich in detail and convincing in its arguments. Simon Horobin, Studies in the Age of Chaucer this is a ground-breaking book ... all who read it will find much in it to increase their understanding of Middle English. Norman F Blake, Archiv fur das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Literaturen I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of English. The historical background to Henry III's letters in particular seems to have been painstakingly researched and the discussion makes for absorbing reading for the specialist and layman alike. Cynthia L. Allen, Australian National University ...an enjoyable, very important, and above all provocative book Jeremy Smith, Modern Language Review It's typical of M's scholarship that everyone interested in this area will have to rethink completely after reading English in the Middle Ages. David Matthews, Language '... a fascinating book...an eloquent and extended reminder that there are other ways to look at the medieval writing we prize than the ways we have grown accustomed to.' Christopher Cannon, Speculum 2005 ... interesting and engaging book. English Historical Review ...great potential significance for future work... Studia Neophil 76More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Scholars and students of linguistics (especially historical English linguistics) and medieval literature, medieval historians
Illustrations
1 Foto bzw. Rasterbild
1 halftone insert
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
546 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-926268-7 (9780199262687)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Tim William Machan
English in the Middle Ages
E-Book
06/2003
1st Edition
Oxford University Press
€84.33
Available for download
Person
Tim William Machan, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Content
PREFACE; 1. The Ecology of Middle English; 2. The Baron's War and Henry's Letters; 3. Language, Dialect, Nation; 4. What's a Dialect Before it's a Dialect?; 5. After Middle English; WORKS CITED