John Algeo Michael Cheng National Chengchi University The Origins and Development of the English Language Chapter 6: The Middle English Period John Algeo Michael Cheng National Chengchi University

You can see lots of variation in spelling during this period.

Old English Nouns: a-stems most common Over half the commonly used nouns were a-stems Possessive s comes from Genitive Singular inflection Plural s comes from Nom-Acc Masculine Plural inflection Neuter Long Plurals lost the inflectional ending, leading to our words in which the plural is the same as the singular.

Old English Nouns: ō-stems were Feminine About one third of commonly used nouns were feminine ō-stems Other feminine nouns were found in i-stems or u-stems declensions Note that with long vowels, the nominative singular version had no inflectional ending.

Old English Nouns: r-stems, vowel mutation A few nouns are in the r-stem declension. These nouns formed the plural by adding an r after the root. Children is originally from this group. But our modern plural form of children combines the r-stem plural with the n-stem (or weak noun) plural Book uses root-consonant stems, but other names for this group are mutated plurals, vowel mutation, athematic nouns The vowel in the root changed due to i-mutation This is because in the original form of the word, there was a suffix that had an ‘i’ in it. This suffix was lost, but the mutated vowel remains.

Old English Nouns: weak nouns Most common inflectional ending was –an This was the second most common way to form the plural, but now the s plural has taken over

Old English Strong declension of ‘good man’ (guman is an n-stem) Singular Plural Nom gōd guma gōde guman Acc gōdne guman Gen gōdes guman gōdra gumena Dat gōdum guman gōdum gumun Ins

Old English Weak declension of ‘good man’ (n-stem noun) Singular Plural Nom se gōda guma þā gōdan guman Acc þone gōdan guman Gen þæs gōdan guman þāra gōdra (gōdena) gumena Dat þǣm gōdan guman þǣm gōdum gumun Ins þȳ gōdan guman

Case 1st 2nd 3rd (masc) 3rd (fem) 3rd (neu) A ich, I, ik þū, thou… G ich, I, ik þū, thou… þē, thee… he, hē shē, hō, hyō, hyē, hī, shō, chō, hē, heo, sche, ȝho hit, it A mē, me him, hine hī, hir(e), her(e), hure, heore hit, it, him mī, mi, min(e) þī, þīn(e), thīn(e) his hir(e), heore, her(e), hires P L U R wē, we ȝe, yē he, hi(e), hī, ho, þai, þei, they, thai ūs, us ȝou, eu, you, ȝiu hem, heom, them, thaim, theim, ham, þaim, þam ure, ur(e), oures ȝur(e), your(e), youres her(e), their(e), þair, heore, hore, þar, heres, their(e)s flu badd & for fledd te flin wille you wyll I late you wit of seche tydyng as I here

ME Use of 2nd Person Singular Excerpt from Orm’s Dedication Page (early 13th century) Nu broþerr wallter. Now brother Walter. …Icc hafe don swasumm þu badd & for þedd te þin wille. … I have done as you bade and performed your will. Icc hafe wennd innttill ennglissh Goddspelles hallhe lare. I have turned into English Gospel’s holy teaching

ME Use of 2nd Person Plural Excerpt from Richard Cely’s letter to his family (1497) 1. I grete you wyll I late you wit of seche tydyng as I here I greet you while I let you know of such tidings as I hear. 2. Thomas belhom hatth a letter from caleys the weche ys of a batell… Thomas Belhom hath a letter from Calais the which is of a battle…

ME Use of 2nd Person Plural Excerpt from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (c. 1375) 1. ‘God moroun, Sir Gawayn,’ sayde þat gay lady, Good morning, Sir Gawain, said that gay lady. 2. ‘Ʒe ar a sleper unslyȝe, þat mon may slyde hider; ‘You are an unwary sleeper, that man may slide hither; 3. I schal bynde yow in your bedde, þat be ȝe trayst.’ I shall bind you in your bed, that be you trust [= you be certain of that].’ 4. ‘Goud moroun, gay,’ quoþ Gawayn þe blyþe, ‘Good morning, gay,’ quoth the blithe Gawain, 5. Me schal worþe at your wille, and þat me wel lykez, Me shall worthy at your will, and that me well likes,

ME Use of 2nd Person Plural Excerpt from Margaret Paston’s letter to her new husband (15th century) 1. Ryth reverent and worscheful husbond, Right reverent and worshipful husband, 2. I recomaude me to yow, I recommend myself to you, 3. Desyryng hertyly to here of yowre wylfare, Desiring heartily to hear of your welfare, 4. Thankyng yow for the tokyn that ye sent me… Thanking you for the token that you sent me…

Middle English Spelling and Orthography Homework Answers Roof (h, u) Now (i) Sharp (f, j) Need (u) Ridge (h, a) Quickly (e, o, t) Mood (u) Guilt (c, t) Short (f) Candel  Candel (-) Wishe (t, f, g) Whal (d, l) Beete (u, k) Chest (b) Lid (h) Cleve (j, q, g) Qualm (e, j) Root (u) Kichene (o, t, b, k) Path (l, p) Brow (i) Midg (t, a) Kind (o,t) Proud (i) Thousend (p, i) Guile (c)