English In The Middle Ages - Softcover

Machan, Tim William

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0199282129 ISBN 13: 9780199282128

Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 2008

Synopsis

What did people in England in the Middle Ages think about language? What was their view of English, French, and Latin, and how did this influence the way they communicated? This book uses these questions as a basis for a ground-breaking investigation into the use and status of the English language in medieval England.Professor Machan suggests that many linguistic, literary, and historical considerations of medieval statements on language have significantly failed to take into account the social and linguistic contexts of their production. In this volume he explores not only medieval ideas about language but also the discursive traditions which generated them. English in the Middle Ages draws upon a wide range of documentary evidence, including most notably the royal letters issued in 1258 prior to the Barons' War. The author also analyzes the language spoken by Chaucer's pilgrims, theconversations in 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight', and many other chronicles, poems, and commentaries. The book concludes with a consideration of the post-medieval history 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.

About this title

About the Author

T.W. Machan is Professor and Chair of English at Marquette University, where he teaches linguistics and medieval language and literature. He has published extensively on Middle English and Old Norse and edited texts in both languages. His books include Textual Criticism and Middle English Texts (University Press of Virginia, 1994) and English in its Social Contexts (edited with C. T. Scott, Oxford University Press, 1992).

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0199282129
• ISBN 13: 9780199282128
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 226