1. 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

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

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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

26. 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

27. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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…

33. 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,

34. 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…

49. 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)