Linguistic Atlas of Late Medieval

English

By Lauren Crowne

Atlas ScopeAtlas Scope

Where? The atlas covers areas of England and Wales for which material

was available, and a small amount of data from Southern Scotland

When? 1350-1450 (until the end of the reign of Henry VI) hard to keep it within those time limits Spelling and syntax changes over time, slight inaccuracies in maps

Where? The atlas covers areas of England and Wales for which material

was available, and a small amount of data from Southern Scotland

When? 1350-1450 (until the end of the reign of Henry VI) hard to keep it within those time limits Spelling and syntax changes over time, slight inaccuracies in maps

Qualities of Middle English

Qualities of Middle English

Diversity of written form Dialects were used at the time but London English was becoming

more regular/standard According to the atlas, almost any Middle English written before

1430 is considered “dialectal” by definition Latin & Anglo-Norman became language of the government after the

Norman Conquest; displaced Old English Much material from this time was written in the emerging London

standard, not dialects, Latin, or French Some regions have more written documents than others

Northern or North Midland English: very few sources before 1350Certain texts of southern Scots were used in the atlas for

Northern England regions Southern England: much material from 14th century and on

Diversity of written form Dialects were used at the time but London English was becoming

more regular/standard According to the atlas, almost any Middle English written before

1430 is considered “dialectal” by definition Latin & Anglo-Norman became language of the government after the

Norman Conquest; displaced Old English Much material from this time was written in the emerging London

standard, not dialects, Latin, or French Some regions have more written documents than others

Northern or North Midland English: very few sources before 1350Certain texts of southern Scots were used in the atlas for

Northern England regions Southern England: much material from 14th century and on

The Affect of the Standard

The Affect of the Standard

The Development of Standard English affected the atlas earlier in the south than the north dialectal texts in the south became rare at an

earlier date “Near-standard” and “semi-standard”

Describes certain spoken English dialects that were starting to accommodate the written standard

Spread faster in legal and administrative writing than literary works (Chancery Standard- official language of London administrators)

Printing helped facilitate the development of a national literary standard

The standard made it difficult for the writers of the atlas to determine where a piece of writing originated from unless it specifically refers to a location

The Development of Standard English affected the atlas earlier in the south than the north dialectal texts in the south became rare at an

earlier date “Near-standard” and “semi-standard”

Describes certain spoken English dialects that were starting to accommodate the written standard

Spread faster in legal and administrative writing than literary works (Chancery Standard- official language of London administrators)

Printing helped facilitate the development of a national literary standard

The standard made it difficult for the writers of the atlas to determine where a piece of writing originated from unless it specifically refers to a location

Methodology in Atlas Composition

Methodology in Atlas Composition

Documents of interest were ones that referred to named places Is the document a “genuine local product” with language that reflects the location?

Cannot be well evaluated without legal and historical references

Developing standard made this quite difficult

Literary Texts & Documents Documents: legal instruments, administrative writings, personal letters (I.e. writings from Early Chancery Proceedings in London)

Literary Texts: imaginative and discursive writings (regardless of their quality as literature); Bible translations, medical recipes, charms

Documents of interest were ones that referred to named places Is the document a “genuine local product” with language that reflects the location?

Cannot be well evaluated without legal and historical references

Developing standard made this quite difficult

Literary Texts & Documents Documents: legal instruments, administrative writings, personal letters (I.e. writings from Early Chancery Proceedings in London)

Literary Texts: imaginative and discursive writings (regardless of their quality as literature); Bible translations, medical recipes, charms

Determining a Document’s Origin

Determining a Document’s Origin

Evidence for the place of origin of local documents is normally provided in the document’s dating clauses

a document is dated, or “given” on a named day and from a named place

For example:“Gyfen at the namptwyche the ix day of Octobre The yere of the regne of kyng henry the sext after the conquest of xxxiiij”

Evidence for the place of origin of local documents is normally provided in the document’s dating clauses

a document is dated, or “given” on a named day and from a named place

For example:“Gyfen at the namptwyche the ix day of Octobre The yere of the regne of kyng henry the sext after the conquest of xxxiiij”

Types of Documents Studied:

Types of Documents Studied:

Deed Poll Indenture Register Roll Award Defeasance of a

bond Enfeoffment to

Use Cartulary

Deed Poll Indenture Register Roll Award Defeasance of a

bond Enfeoffment to

Use Cartulary

Extent Grant Inspeximus Marriage articles Perambulation Presentment of a Jury Rental Terrier

Extent Grant Inspeximus Marriage articles Perambulation Presentment of a Jury Rental Terrier

“Seal of Approval”“Seal of Approval” Seal: a piece of wax bearing the impression of a personal or

institutional emblem attached to a document Some writers have imagined that documents lacking their seals

cannot be presumed authentic and are untrustworthy for use in creating the atlas

A document with a seal is agreed to be able to be taken at face value

BUT… This is difficult because seals are:

A) easily damaged B) their identity can be obscure C) forgery may be in question D) the type of document, transmission of the text, and

circumstances in which it was produced all must come into question; can’t rely solely on the seal to determine if the document can be trusted

Seal: a piece of wax bearing the impression of a personal or institutional emblem attached to a document

Some writers have imagined that documents lacking their seals cannot be presumed authentic and are untrustworthy for use in creating the atlas

A document with a seal is agreed to be able to be taken at face value

BUT… This is difficult because seals are:

A) easily damaged B) their identity can be obscure C) forgery may be in question D) the type of document, transmission of the text, and

circumstances in which it was produced all must come into question; can’t rely solely on the seal to determine if the document can be trusted

Dot MapsDot MapsDot maps show where in an area (county, region, etc.) a certain pronunciation is used

Each dot map displays the distribution of the set of forms specified in the map’s caption

Places where each form has been found are represented by the black dots

3 dot sizes: large, medium, small (reflecting how dominant the particular form is in the given place)

Dot maps show where in an area (county, region, etc.) a certain pronunciation is used

Each dot map displays the distribution of the set of forms specified in the map’s caption

Places where each form has been found are represented by the black dots

3 dot sizes: large, medium, small (reflecting how dominant the particular form is in the given place)

Item MapsItem MapsItem maps show show the geographical ranges of the forms of words

Covers the area of mainland BritainFor each place for in which written material was used by the atlas composers, all of the variants of the words are recorded from that place and entered directly on the maps

The numbers alongside each map frame are the eastings and northings of the National Grid

Item maps show show the geographical ranges of the forms of words

Covers the area of mainland BritainFor each place for in which written material was used by the atlas composers, all of the variants of the words are recorded from that place and entered directly on the maps

The numbers alongside each map frame are the eastings and northings of the National Grid