Question

Dialects of Middle English

Hint:

Writing a note involves briefly summarizing key points or offering an opinion on a particular subject, often with a focus on clarity and conciseness.

Answer 1

Note: During the Middle English period (approx. 1100-1500), there was no single standard form of English. Instead, the language was characterized by a variety of regional dialects. The five main dialects were: Northern (spoken north of the Humber River), Southern (spoken south of the Thames), Kentish (in the southeast), and East and West Midland. These dialects differed significantly in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. The East Midland dialect, spoken in the prosperous and politically important region that included London, Cambridge, and Oxford, gradually gained prominence. It was the dialect of Geoffrey Chaucer, and its influence was cemented by William Caxton, who set up his printing press in London, making East Midland the basis for what would become Standard English.