I remember my older brother having a copy of The Canterbury Tales. I think that was how they spelled in the XIV-century England. It did look weird to me too.
It’s not a matter of spelling. Chaucer’s time falles into the Middle English period, which ran from about 1100 to 1470. During this period, English was gradually working out the influx of French brought by the Norman Conquest, and becoming fixed upon the dialect of London and the southeast. Spelling was haphazard, and did not become standardized until the introduction of printing presses in the later 15th century. The differences between Middle and Modern English are too great to be considered merely a transitional form but not so significant to consider it a separate language.
I couldn’t handle the Middle English spelling, looked for an audio version to borrow and was unsuccessful. I settled for a children’s version to get the jist of the tales. My thought is that an audio version would be much easier to understand (rather listening to someone with an accent) than deciphering the phonics of Middle English myself.
Templo S.U.D. over 14 years ago
I remember my older brother having a copy of The Canterbury Tales. I think that was how they spelled in the XIV-century England. It did look weird to me too.
runar over 14 years ago
It’s not a matter of spelling. Chaucer’s time falles into the Middle English period, which ran from about 1100 to 1470. During this period, English was gradually working out the influx of French brought by the Norman Conquest, and becoming fixed upon the dialect of London and the southeast. Spelling was haphazard, and did not become standardized until the introduction of printing presses in the later 15th century. The differences between Middle and Modern English are too great to be considered merely a transitional form but not so significant to consider it a separate language.
“Whan that Aprill in its shoures soote…”
parethed over 14 years ago
Reading it in high school was still confusing as the devil…
woodwork over 14 years ago
Yet, people STILL insist that the King James is the only one…go figure!
Me_Again over 14 years ago
I’m one of the few who could actually understand The Canterbury Tales in Middle English… and I’m 13 years old.
notinksanymore over 14 years ago
I had more trouble with the crazy capitalization than with the spelling. I found it rather distracting.
Brother_James437 over 14 years ago
Who uses “spell check”?
Smiley Rmom over 14 years ago
I couldn’t handle the Middle English spelling, looked for an audio version to borrow and was unsuccessful. I settled for a children’s version to get the jist of the tales. My thought is that an audio version would be much easier to understand (rather listening to someone with an accent) than deciphering the phonics of Middle English myself.
mrslukeskywalker over 14 years ago
That’s one SMART birdie.
celeconecca over 14 years ago
Beowulf in 7th and 12th grades, Canterbury Tales in 10th grade. Confusion and frustration reigned, yet we turned out okay!
jranch7777 over 14 years ago
nuthin worse than a smart mouthed bird! lol
freeholder1 over 14 years ago
Holy Spirit stamp of approval was the last one required, joe.
freeholder1 over 14 years ago
More errors than thee canst shake a speare at.
freeholder1 over 14 years ago
Can the bird fly over Ann Coulter and leave a message?
mrslukeskywalker over 14 years ago
The Obama bird and his Chicago “comrades” have been doing it to all of us since election day, but they WILL be stopped. You betcha!