From Caedmon to Caxton

From Caedmon From Caedmon to Caxtonto CaxtonThomas HoneggerThomas Honegger

[email protected]@uni-jena.de

http://http://www.db-www.db-thueringenthueringen.de/.de/

content/top/content/top/index.xmlindex.xml

History of EnglishHistory of English

Canterbury PilgrimsCanterbury Pilgrims

Breaking & Completing Breaking & Completing the Framethe Frame

Chaucer not only disregards the ‘social Chaucer not only disregards the ‘social hierarchy‘ in his sequence of tales (the hierarchy‘ in his sequence of tales (the Miller follows after the Knight, though Miller follows after the Knight, though not quite planned), but he also inserts not quite planned), but he also inserts a tale that has its origin in the a tale that has its origin in the circumstance that the pilgrims meet a circumstance that the pilgrims meet a canon and his yeoman.canon and his yeoman.

Later authors add their tales to the Later authors add their tales to the framework (Tale of Beryn, Lydgate ...) framework (Tale of Beryn, Lydgate ...)

Video: The Canon‘s Yeoman‘s TaleVideo: The Canon‘s Yeoman‘s Tale

Chaucer’s Language 1Chaucer’s Language 1

This carpenter hadde wedded newe a This carpenter hadde wedded newe a wyf,wyf,Which that he lovede moore than his Which that he lovede moore than his lyf;lyf;Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.Of eighteteene yeer she was of age.Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwe in cage,in cage,For she way wylde and yong, and he For she way wylde and yong, and he was old.was old.


This carpenter hadThis carpenter haddede wedded new wedded newee a wyf, a wyf,Which that he lovedWhich that he lovedee moore than his lyf; moore than his lyf;Of eighteteene yeer she was of agOf eighteteene yeer she was of agee..Jalous he was, and heeld hire narwJalous he was, and heeld hire narwee in cag in cagee,,

For she way wylde and yong, and he was old.For she way wylde and yong, and he was old. For she way wyldFor she way wyldee and yong, and he was old. and yong, and he was old.

Chaucer’s Language 2Chaucer’s Language 2 A Knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,A Knyght ther was, and that a worthy man,

That fro the tymThat fro the tymee that he first bigan that he first biganTo riden out, he loved To riden out, he loved chivalrichivalriee,,TrouthTrouthee and and honourhonour, , fredomfredom and and curteisicurteisiee..

chivalrie = prowesschivalrie = prowesstrouthe = fidelitytrouthe = fidelityhonour = good reputation, honourhonour = good reputation, honourfredom = generosity of spiritfredom = generosity of spiritcurteisie = refinement of manners & curteisie = refinement of manners & feelingsfeelings

Chaucer’s Language 3Chaucer’s Language 3 O firste moevyng! Crueel firmament,O firste moevyng! Crueel firmament,

With thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ayWith thy diurnal sweigh that crowdest ayAnd hurlest al from est til occidentAnd hurlest al from est til occidentThat naturThat natureelly woldlly woldee hold holdee another way, another way,Thy crowdyng set the hevThy crowdyng set the heveennee in swich array in swich arrayAt the bigynnyng of this fiers viagAt the bigynnyng of this fiers viagee,,That crueel Mars hath slayn this mariagThat crueel Mars hath slayn this mariagee..

firste moevyng = primum mobile (9th sphere)firste moevyng = primum mobile (9th sphere)crowden = to pushcrowden = to pushdiurnal sweigh = daily motion (‘sway’)diurnal sweigh = daily motion (‘sway’)est til occident = from east to westest til occident = from east to westnaturelly = by natural ordernaturelly = by natural order

Schedelsche Weltchronik Schedelsche Weltchronik 14931493

TerraTerra LunaLuna MercuriusMercurius VenusVenus SolSol MarsMars IupiterIupiter SaturnusSaturnus FirmamentumFirmamentum Primum MobilePrimum Mobile


This Nicholas anon leet fle a fartThis Nicholas anon leet fle a fartAs greet as it had been a thonder-As greet as it had been a thonder-dent,dent,That with the strook he was almoost That with the strook he was almoost yblent;yblent;And he was redy with his iren hoot,And he was redy with his iren hoot,And Nicholas amyddAnd Nicholas amyddee the ers he the ers he smoot.smoot.

Chaucer’s Language 5Chaucer’s Language 5 Aleyn spak first: “Al hayl, Symond, y-fayth!Aleyn spak first: “Al hayl, Symond, y-fayth!

Hou Hou faresfares thy fair thy fairee doghter and thy wyf?’ doghter and thy wyf?’ ““Symond,” quod John, “by God, nedSymond,” quod John, “by God, nedee has na has na

peer.peer.Hym Hym boesboes serv servee hymself that has na swayn, hymself that has na swayn,Or ellOr ellees he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.s he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.OurOuree manciple, I manciple, I hophopee he wil be deed, he wil be deed,SwaSwa werkeswerkes ay the ay the wangeswanges in his heed; in his heed;And forthy And forthy isis I com I comee, and eek Alayn,, and eek Alayn,To gryndTo gryndee our ouree corn and cari corn and carie ie it t hamham agayn;” agayn;”

italics = Northern dialect formsitalics = Northern dialect forms

Geoffrey Chaucer: A Life Geoffrey Chaucer: A Life 1414

1389 appointed Clerk of the King’s 1389 appointed Clerk of the King’s Works. Summoned for debt six times.Works. Summoned for debt six times.

1390 robbed three times in September.1390 robbed three times in September. 1389/90 resigns annuities and thus 1389/90 resigns annuities and thus

avoids persecution by the parliament => avoids persecution by the parliament => Chaucer shows political instinctChaucer shows political instinct

1391 resigns as Clerk of the King’s 1391 resigns as Clerk of the King’s Works; writes Works; writes Treatise on the AstrolabeTreatise on the Astrolabe..

1394 granted royal annuity of £ 20.1394 granted royal annuity of £ 20. 1398 travels through England on King’s 1398 travels through England on King’s

‘arduous and urgent business’‘arduous and urgent business’


1399 death of John of Gaunt; 1399 death of John of Gaunt; deposition of Richard II in deposition of Richard II in September; accession of Henry September; accession of Henry IV; Chaucer returns to London.IV; Chaucer returns to London.

Henry IV Bolingbroke Henry IV Bolingbroke (son of John of Gaunt)(son of John of Gaunt)


1399 Chaucer’s 1399 Chaucer’s Complaint to His PurseComplaint to His Purse (addressed to Henry IV):(addressed to Henry IV):To you, my purse, you whom I will not To you, my purse, you whom I will not slightslightFor any other, you my lady dear,For any other, you my lady dear,Bitterly I complain. You are so lightBitterly I complain. You are so lightThat certainly you give me heavy cheer.That certainly you give me heavy cheer.I had as lief be laid upon my bier,I had as lief be laid upon my bier,And hoping for your mercy, thus I cry:And hoping for your mercy, thus I cry:Be heavy again, for if not I shall die.Be heavy again, for if not I shall die.


25 October 1400 (date based on 25 October 1400 (date based on inscription on his tomb): death of inscription on his tomb): death of Geoffrey Chaucer; buried in Geoffrey Chaucer; buried in Westminster Abbey; moved in Westminster Abbey; moved in 1556 to ‘Poet’s Corner’.1556 to ‘Poet’s Corner’.

Chaucer’ Tomb (erected Chaucer’ Tomb (erected 1556) at Westminster 1556) at Westminster

AbbeyAbbey

From Middle From Middle English to Early English to Early Modern EnglishModern English

The Great Vowel ShiftThe Great Vowel Shift

The Great Vowel Shift 1The Great Vowel Shift 1

MEME early ModEearly ModEModEnglModEngl

foul [u:] =====> foul [foul [u:] =====> foul [ÚÚ] ====>] ====>foul [afoul [aUU]]

mood [o:] ====> mood [u:] ====>mood [o:] ====> mood [u:] ====>mood [u:]mood [u:]

boot [boot [OO:] =====> boat [o:] ====>:] =====> boat [o:] ====>boat [boat [ÚÚ]]

The Great Vowel Shift 2The Great Vowel Shift 2

MEME early ModEearly ModEModEnglModEngl

fife [i:] =====> five [fife [i:] =====> five [ÍÍ] ======>] ======>five [afive [aII]]

feet [e:] =====> feet [i:] ======> feet [e:] =====> feet [i:] ======> feet [i:]feet [i:]

clene [clene [EE:] ===> clean [e:] =====>:] ===> clean [e:] =====>clean [i:]clean [i:]

name [a:] > [æ:] > name [name [a:] > [æ:] > name [EE:] > [e:] :] > [e:] > name [ei]> name [ei]

Great Vowel Shift 3Great Vowel Shift 3

but not:but not: break /breik/break /breik/ */bri:k/*/bri:k/ great /greit/great /greit/ */gri:t/*/gri:t/ steak /steik/steak /steik/ */sti:k/*/sti:k/

Great Vowel ShiftGreat Vowel Shift

affects only long vowels =>affects only long vowels => short vowels retain their ME short vowels retain their ME

pronunciationpronunciation five /faif/ < ME fi-fe /fi:ffive /faif/ < ME fi-fe /fi:f´́/ /

< OE f< OE fiife /fi:ffe /fi:f´́// vs. fifteen /fifti:n/ < ME fif-vs. fifteen /fifti:n/ < ME fif-

teene /fifte:nteene /fifte:n´́/ < OE f/ < OE fiiftfteene ne /fi:fte:n/fi:fte:n´́//

Henry IV Henry IV (1367-1413, reigned (1367-1413, reigned

1399-1413)1399-1413)

Henry VHenry V(1387-1422, reigned (1387-1422, reigned

1413-1422)1413-1422)

A New Standard RisingA New Standard Rising City of Westminster centre of City of Westminster centre of

government administration since c. government administration since c. 1150.1150.

Court of the Lord Chancellor > Court of the Lord Chancellor > chancelery > The Chancerychancelery > The Chancery

Use of English in administrative Use of English in administrative documents re-established about 1430documents re-established about 1430

English used in the Chancery spread English used in the Chancery spread all over Britain by means of trained all over Britain by means of trained scribesscribes

Gothic Bookhand (13th Gothic Bookhand (13th c.) c.)

vs. Cursiva Anglicana vs. Cursiva Anglicana (14th c.)(14th c.)

Chancery English Chancery English (letter by Henry V, 1418)(letter by Henry V, 1418)

Right trusty and welbeloued / brother / Right trusty and welbeloued / brother / We grete yow wel / And as we suppose / We grete yow wel / And as we suppose / It is not out of youre Rememberance in It is not out of youre Rememberance in what wise and how we ofte haue what wise and how we ofte haue charged yow by oure lres / charged yow by oure lres / ππat good at good and hasty repacon and retitucon were and hasty repacon and retitucon were ordeined and maade at altymes of ordeined and maade at altymes of suche atemptates as hapned to be suche atemptates as hapned to be made by oure suggettes / ayenst made by oure suggettes / ayenst ππe e trewes taken betwix vs and oure trewes taken betwix vs and oure brother brother πe duc of Bretaigne.πe duc of Bretaigne.

William Caxton (1422-William Caxton (1422-1491)1491)

William CaxtonWilliam Caxton

born between 1415 and 1425 to a born between 1415 and 1425 to a Kentish familyKentish family

apprentice to the Mercers’ Company apprentice to the Mercers’ Company 14381438

lived outside England, 1463 Governor lived outside England, 1463 Governor of the English merchants at Bruges of the English merchants at Bruges => contact to the Burgundian court => contact to the Burgundian court => translates Raul Lefevre’s => translates Raul Lefevre’s Recuyell Recuyell des histories de Troiedes histories de Troie into English in into English in 1469.1469.

William CaxtonWilliam Caxton

1472 participates in the 1472 participates in the publication of Bartholomaeus publication of Bartholomaeus Anglicus’ Anglicus’ De Proprietatibus De Proprietatibus RerumRerum => becomes interested in => becomes interested in the ‘art of printing’the ‘art of printing’

1473 in Bruges sets up his own 1473 in Bruges sets up his own printing pressprinting press

Caxton Style Press Caxton Style Press (1476)(1476)

Caxton‘s First Book Caxton‘s First Book printed in England printed in England

(1477)(1477)

Some of Caxton’s BooksSome of Caxton’s Books

1474 1474 Recuyell of the Historie of TroyeRecuyell of the Historie of Troye, , The Game of ChessThe Game of Chess (both at Bruges) => (both at Bruges) => first book in English not printed in first book in English not printed in England!England!

1477 first book printed in England: 1477 first book printed in England: The The Dictes or Sayengis of the PhilosophresDictes or Sayengis of the Philosophres

1478 1478 The Canterbury TalesThe Canterbury Tales, , Parliament Parliament of Fowlsof Fowls, , Consolatio PhilosophiaeConsolatio Philosophiae

1479 1479 The Book of CourtesyThe Book of Courtesy

Some of Caxton’s BooksSome of Caxton’s Books

1482 Trevisa’s translation of 1482 Trevisa’s translation of Higden’s Higden’s PolychroniconPolychronicon; ; Chaucer’s Chaucer’s Troilus and CriseydeTroilus and Criseyde

1483 1483 The Golden LegendThe Golden Legend (Caxton’s translation of Jacobus (Caxton’s translation of Jacobus de Voraigne’s de Voraigne’s Legenda AureaLegenda Aurea))

1485 Malory’s 1485 Malory’s Morte DarthurMorte Darthur

Pages from Caxton‘s Pages from Caxton‘s Printing of Trevisa‘s Printing of Trevisa‘s

PolychroniconPolychronicon

Caxton’s revision of the Caxton’s revision of the PolychroniconPolychronicon

I William Caxton a symple I William Caxton a symple persone have endeuoyred me to persone have endeuoyred me to wryte fyrst overall the sayd book wryte fyrst overall the sayd book of Proloconycon and somwhat of Proloconycon and somwhat have chaunged the rude and old have chaunged the rude and old Englyssh, that is to wete certayn Englyssh, that is to wete certayn wordes which in these dayes be wordes which in these dayes be neither vsyd ne vnderstanden.neither vsyd ne vnderstanden.

Polychronicon Polychronicon (Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton (Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton

1482)1482) As it is i-knowe As it is i-knowe

how meny how meny manere peple manere peple beebeeππ in in ππis is ilond ilond ππere ere beebeeππ also so also so many dyuers many dyuers longages and longages and tonges;tonges;

As it is knowen As it is knowen how many how many maner peple maner peple been in this been in this Ilond ther ben Ilond ther ben also many also many langages and langages and tonges.tonges.

Polychronicon Polychronicon (Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton (Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton

1482)1482) As it is As it is i-i-knowe knowe

how meny how meny manere peple manere peple beebeeππ in in ππis is ilond ilond ππere ere beebeeππ also so also so many dyuers many dyuers longages and longages and tonges;tonges;

As it is knowAs it is knowenen how many how many maner peple maner peple beebeenn in in ththis is Ilond ther beIlond ther benn also many also many langages and langages and tonges.tonges.

Polychronicon 2Polychronicon 2(Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton (Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton

1482)1482) walsche men walsche men

and scottes and scottes ππat at beebeeππ nought i- nought i-medled wimedled wiππ ooππer naciouns er naciouns holdeholdeππ wel nyh wel nyh hir firste hir firste longage and longage and speche.speche.

walshmen and walshmen and scottes that scottes that ben not ben not medled with medled with other nacions other nacions kepe neygh yet kepe neygh yet theyr first theyr first langage and langage and speche.speche.

Polychronicon 2Polychronicon 2(Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton (Trevisa 1385 vs. Caxton

1482)1482) walsche men walsche men

and scottes and scottes ππat at beebeeππ nought nought i-i-medled wimedled wiππ ooππer naciouns er naciouns holdeholdeππ wel nyh wel nyh hirhir firste firste longage and longage and speche.speche.

walshmen and walshmen and scottes scottes ththat at bebenn not not medled wimedled withth oothther nacions er nacions kepekepe neygh yet neygh yet theyrtheyr first first langage and langage and speche.speche.

Caxton on the Diversity Caxton on the Diversity of Englishof English

from OE from OE œZœZ, aig, ey(e); pl. , aig, ey(e); pl. œZœZru, ru, eyren, eyroneyren, eyron

from ON eg, egg, ege; pl. eggesfrom ON eg, egg, ege; pl. egges Loo, what sholde a man in thyse Loo, what sholde a man in thyse

dayes now wryte, egges or eyren / dayes now wryte, egges or eyren / certaynly it is harde to playse certaynly it is harde to playse euery man / by cause of dyuersite euery man / by cause of dyuersite & chaunge of langage.& chaunge of langage.

The Rise of the New The Rise of the New StandardStandard

Type I: based on the spoken dialects Type I: based on the spoken dialects of the Central Midlands, especially of the Central Midlands, especially the counties of Northamptonshire, the counties of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire.Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire.

Type II: found in a group of 14th Type II: found in a group of 14th cent. manuscripts which are cent. manuscripts which are probably all from the Greater probably all from the Greater London area.London area.

Type III: also a London-based Type III: also a London-based standard (in particular associated standard (in particular associated with the best manuscripts of with the best manuscripts of Chaucer and Hoccleve)Chaucer and Hoccleve)

The Rise of the New The Rise of the New StandardStandard

Type IV: closely associated with Type IV: closely associated with the numerous documents issuing the numerous documents issuing from the Chancery from c. 1430 from the Chancery from c. 1430 onwardsonwards

Caxton used predominantly Type Caxton used predominantly Type IV for his publications => IV for his publications => spreading of the new standard spreading of the new standard (‘standardisation’ affects mostly (‘standardisation’ affects mostly choice of vocabulary, not choice of vocabulary, not spelling!)spelling!)

Why is English so hard?Why is English so hard?

We’ll begin with box, and the plural is We’ll begin with box, and the plural is boxesboxesBut the plural of ox should be oxen, But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes.not oxes.

OE oxa m., pl. oxan => old plural OE oxa m., pl. oxan => old plural ‘oxen’‘oxen’

Then 1 fowl is goose, but 2 are called Then 1 fowl is goose, but 2 are called geesegeeseYet the plural of moose is never meese.Yet the plural of moose is never meese.

OE gOE goos, pl. (i-mutated) gs, pl. (i-mutated) geess


We speak of brother, and also of brethrenWe speak of brother, and also of brethrenThough we say mother, we never say methren.Though we say mother, we never say methren.

OE broOE broDDar, pl. broar, pl. broDDru => dialectal variant ru => dialectal variant with weak plural -an => browith weak plural -an => broDDran > brethrenran > brethren

The masculine pronouns are he, his and himThe masculine pronouns are he, his and himBut imagine the feminine she, shis, and shim!But imagine the feminine she, shis, and shim!

OE heo, hire, hire; ME northern dialect OE heo, hire, hire; ME northern dialect sho/she => she, her, hersho/she => she, her, her


So our English, I think you will So our English, I think you will agree,agree,Is the trickiest language you ever did Is the trickiest language you ever did see.see.

Thank you for Thank you for your attentionyour attention

Have a nice summer-Have a nice summer-break!break!

Documents

From Caedmon to Caxton