ORAL PRESENTATIONS
GROUP 1
In our opinion, this group has made a good presentation. They have developed a brief but well structured introduction with many graphical presentations, maps and drawings. In terms of content, we believe they have talked about all the fields: etymology, phonetics, grammar... Their conclusion was good and we have also liked the final photograph. It has been really funny.
At the same time, we consider that their pronunciation has been correct and well expressed, although they have had to resort to their notes several times. As well, their ME speech has been very long, with many and different examples. In short, they have worked hard and we have enjoyed their oral presentation. GROUP 2 This group has made a very original presentation. They have used photographs, maps, graphs and they have also remembered us how ME was pronounced at that time. That issue has been very interesting. They were well documented. However, they have barely made a short reference to GVS, which was very relevant at Chaucer's time, while they have spent too long on talking about the Indoeuropean languages , which in our opinion is so far from the initial objective of this work.
Broadly speaking, this reading has been clear and well prepared.
GROUP 3 This presentation has been clearly good, but we would like to highlight their explanation of the GVS by means of graphics that developed the lengthening of vowels. Moreover, the most significant information of this presentation has been the evolution from Old English declensions to ME. They have shown a lot of examples and have been concerned with a complicated issue. All members of this group have pronounced very well and many times ME, even one of them has memorized the ME excerpt she had to perform. The final result has been excellent.
GROUP 4
They have offered us a good presentation divided in three parts: plot, phonology and etymology. It has been very well organised with a good introduction and a brief conclusion. However, the talking has been too fast and they have spent too much time speaking about the plot. In our opinion, they were very concerned about the theoretical concepts, so they have had to read their notes during their delivery. ME has been largely used and PDE pronunciation has been correct.
GROUP 5
This presentation has attracted our attention because the group has simulated a pilgrimage similar to the one of "Canterbury Tales" as structure of their work. They have focused on metrics, talking about some irregularities of Chaucer's rhyme like the trochee. They have also made allusions to semantics, mainly to words which do not longer exist, synonyms, meaning changes... They have talked about many fields, but they have forgotten phonetics, one matter that we consider very outstanding to speak about it. On the contrary, they have explained the function words from a grammatical point of view that was not so important or interesting for the presentation.
GROUP 6
This group has developed a shorter presentation than it should have been, but its content has referred to fields of all kinds: lexical analysis, syntax, grammar, phonetics and etymology. They have also made a good introduction and a final conclusion. As well, they have used many ME examples. Their pronunciation has been good but they have repeated too many times the same words. Finally, we would like to highlight the last photogragh where Chaucer appeared giving thanks for our attention. It has been an enjoyable final slide. GROUP 7 The content of this presentation has been similar to the rest and the pronunciation has been good too. It has been especially interesting the comparison they have done between the iambic pentameter and the modern pronunciation. However, they have pointed out the Protogermanic, a fact that we consider as no relevant. Regarding the GVS, they have not mentioned it and the ME examples have been very limited and poor. The presentation has been developed too quickly, so the audience could not read the slides.
GROUP 8
One of the most relevant features to point out in this presentation has been a video of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales that this group has shown. This has been a fact that has differentiated their work from the other powerpoint presentations. One girl of the group has pronounced so well that she seemed to be native. Regarding the content, we have to mention that they have named neither the GVS nor phonetics. On the contrary, they have focused on Chaucer's language, etymology, semantics and scansion.
GROUP 9
The pronunciation of this group has been really good, but they have had to read their notes from the beginning, maybe because they were rather nervous. They have used only a few ME examples and the GVS has not been mentioned. However, they have talked about other issues as semantics, etymology, grammar... A positive point has been the fact that they concluded their presentation highlighting the main points.
GROUP 10
They have done a great job by a clear and ordered presentation, equally divided between the three members of the group. And it was probably the explanation on the blackboard of the changes of the vowels occurred in the GVS with the Vowel Chart what proved to be the most interesting point. Not only did it explained and clarified our doubts about this phonological transformation, but it also proved the Power point sometimes unable to show in a clearly way the points to mention.
GROUP 11
This group was formed by three members that used their 15 minutes available in a balanced way. It was a clear presentation, but in certain moments one of the group laughed and talked while one of the other members was presenting, which was not a good detail, but it was certainly a consequence of her nerves and can’t be taken into account.
We only want to highlight two points which were confusing for us. One, the fact that they presented it as “The Clerk Tale”, when it was just the description of this character but still part of the “General Prologue”. And, secondly, to say that, from our point of view, the case of ME speche that is in our days speech is not an example of metathesis, or at least we do not consider that the change in the spelling is due to this fact but to the loss of the final unstressed vowel and the change occurred in the long midclose front vowel in the GVS.
GROUP 12
The three members in this group have done a good presentation that was probably too short, but well structured and well summarized. The short duration was probably due to their fluent way of presenting their points. And, despite the fact that one of them did need to turn to her paper and did read in some moments in order to continue with her part, they proved that they knew what they were talking about.
GROUP 13
They have done a very good presentation. From our point of view, it was one of the most complete ones. They not only did a good work in their power point presentation, by adding medieval images as background, but also did a presentation taking into account all the interesting linguistic aspects that they could find in their excerpt. Furthermore, the three of them were synchronized in a very fluent way that proved them to be well prepared for that moment.
GROUP 14
Their presentation have exceeded the 15 minutes that we have to do it. But it was justified by the amount of work they exposed to us. However, we want to mention some details that drew our attention:
For example, the short time given to each slide with sound changes full of information which was not mentioned and we didn’t have time to read the examples of them. Or their presentation of the Frequency list with entries different for words which were the same, apart from the initial capital letter which was an important, although small detail. We consider that it will probably have proved more effective a presentation with less content but with all the information clearly presented.
GROUP 16
The presentation of this group has been probably too short. But what we want to emphasize from this group is their way to make sure that we all knew what they were talking about before putting examples that show it. One of the members was a little nervous, but it did not affect to the content of his presentation, which was well-worked.
GROUP 17
They have been the only group that had only two people. However, they have done a good presentation framed by a good introduction followed by different linguistic aspects as pronunciation, scansion, lexical analysis... The girl has shown an excellent ability speaking to the audience. She had a wonderful pronunciation and was so self-confident that obtained a great oral presentation. The man has not been so fresh and active but he has explained his part with security on stage.
GROUP 18
Many people have kept attentive when this group have presented their work. It is necessary to point out their great pronunciation and the way they have made the audience pay attention. Even they have asked some questions to the public. Because of this, we think this group has carried out the most dynamic presentation of the class.
Concerning the content, they have also highlighted some interesting points like the superlative form "gretteste", similar to PDE form, or some examples from their fragment of the addition of suffix -ly. In conclusion, we believe this group has done a good job.
GROUP 21
This group has included a very good introduction and conclusion about the contents exposed in class. We would like to highlight their analysis of adjectives and their comments about the word "gan" as an auxiliary form to build the past tense of verbs.
They have shown a suitable way of talking to the public with security and confidence, except one of them who seemed to be quite nervous. Because of that, his part has been characterized by a notable lack of fluency, although he has finally defended it quite well.
GROUP 22
This presentation has been really great. They have taken continuous turns in order to speak and have explained the characters of their excerpt showing pictures of them. At the same time, they have introduced the text they had to analyse. They have also done a tremendous effort memorising many lines of their fragment in ME. As a result, their performance has been very active and enjoyable. On the other hand, we think that the content has not been so complete and detailed. For instance, they have talked so much about function words, but nothing about lexical ones.
GROUP 24
This group has surprised us with an introduction speaking ME. After that, they have presented a content clearly divided into three fields, phonology, semantics and syntax. All of them have been explained with enough examples to make the presentation clear and understable. They have achieved a great level of knowledge, so they have shown a perfect and contrasted collection of data. On the whole, their pronunciation has been very accurate and articulate. In our opinion, this group has been one of the best taking into account content and oral exposition.
GROUP 27
In general, we consider it has been a good presentation. They have structured their work in three different fields: metrical aspects, phonology and etymology. They have explained all the features of their text adding an example on each one. First, they have made some questions and later they have verified them through theory. However, they have used too much time to metrics, so the delivery has resulted too long. The first component of the group has pronounced very well, but so quick that it has been difficult to follow him. The last one, on the contrary, has faced better the public, so his part has been more dynamic.
OUR PRESENTATION
After having attended to all the oral presentations of our class, now we are going to try to evaluate ourselves as objectively as possible.
Regarding the structure of our work, we have taken into account the fields we consideredto be more importants in order to develop them. That is, phonology, grammar, etymology, metrics and semantics. We have focused on our text to extract from it as many examples as possible referred to the most important aspects studied in class. However, we have concentrated too much on speaking about phonology and we have not clearly explained other issues as metrics.
Our power point presentation has been rather average if we compare it with those exposed by our classmates. We have focused our interest on the content and we have not included photograhs, maps, videos... As a result, our exposition has been visually unattractive to the audience. We have worked really hard, but we have also forgotten to include an initial schedule so people could follow us and a brief but clear conclusion. However, we would like to highlight the number of sentences we have pronounced in ME, which we think was one of the main objectives of this presentation.
Concerning the speech, we recognize it has been monotonous during some moments, because we were rather nervous and we have not established alternative turns between us. So our delivery has not been dynamic and we have not communicated with the audience. It has been a pity, becase we had many ideas in order to catch the public's attention making questions and jokes, but we have chosen to memorize the text without using notes. On the other hand, our pronunciation has not been as accurate as we wanted.
In short, we believe that we have developed a well-formed and very documented presentation. We have tried to include all the aspects we have studied in classk, but the lack of time has hindered us from reaching them. However, we hope that our effort be taken into account.
viernes, 19 de junio de 2009
lunes, 18 de mayo de 2009
Pre- Presentation Outline
Here it is our pre-presentation outline:
1.Introduction to our excerpt
2. From OE to Chaucer's ME:
abundance of function words...
3. Chaucer's ME:
1.Introduction to our excerpt
2. From OE to Chaucer's ME:
- General changes in grammar and morphology:
abundance of function words...
3. Chaucer's ME:
- From a synthetical to an analytical language: % of function and lexical words
- Word's origins: percentages and semantic fields
- Spelling inconsistencies
- Phonetics:
-GVS through evidence of rhyme (Chaucer's text-PDE rhymed version)
- Lexis and Semantics:
-Religious sense : literal and metaphoric ---language as a social convention
-Loss of meanings and historical terms and archaic words.
domingo, 17 de mayo de 2009
MAKING USE OF A REST...
Hi! How does the examination go? Making use of a rest, I'm checking that thing about to make a theatrical scene for the oral presentation and I believe it does not go if possible. If we disguise ourselves and assume roles, we will not be able to pronounce all ME and PDE. It will be better to do it otherwise, so that we all speak both.
By the way, I have found a translation of our text, where the lines of verse are also rhymed in Spanish. It would be well to compare them and to highlight its importance for spelling and pronunciation. See you tomorrow morning!
By the way, I have found a translation of our text, where the lines of verse are also rhymed in Spanish. It would be well to compare them and to highlight its importance for spelling and pronunciation. See you tomorrow morning!
sábado, 16 de mayo de 2009
phonetic evolution
Hi!
How are you doing? I've been working today in the phonetic evolution of the words in our fragment from Chaucer's General Prologue . I think it is really interesting to focus one part of our presentation on this aspect, because we can see here in a practical way the effects of the Great Vowel Shift and other minor processes(such as the drop of r in post-vocalic position; or the drop of gh in final position) that explain the English language as it is in our days. It explains the way how English has moved away from an almost phonetic spelling to a written representation far from its spoken reality. And why it is considerably easier for us, as spanish speakers, to read the original text with Chaucer's pronunciation.
What do you think of including a list with examples taken from the text of these phonetic changes?
How is your selection of the words worth to mention in the part of the evolution of meaning?
How are you doing? I've been working today in the phonetic evolution of the words in our fragment from Chaucer's General Prologue . I think it is really interesting to focus one part of our presentation on this aspect, because we can see here in a practical way the effects of the Great Vowel Shift and other minor processes(such as the drop of r in post-vocalic position; or the drop of gh in final position) that explain the English language as it is in our days. It explains the way how English has moved away from an almost phonetic spelling to a written representation far from its spoken reality. And why it is considerably easier for us, as spanish speakers, to read the original text with Chaucer's pronunciation.
What do you think of including a list with examples taken from the text of these phonetic changes?
How is your selection of the words worth to mention in the part of the evolution of meaning?
jueves, 14 de mayo de 2009
Phonetic transcription revised, (part 1)
(click on the image to see the transcription in detail)And shame it is, if a prest take keep,
A shiten shepherde and a clene sheep.
Wel oghte a preest ensample for to yive,
By his clennesse, how that his sheep sholde lyve.
He sette nat his benefice to hyre
And leet his sheep encombred in the myre
And ran to Londoun unto Seinte Poules
To seken hym a chaunterie for soules,
Or with a bretherhed to been withholde;
But dwelte at hoom, and kepte wel his folde,
So that the wolf ne made it nat myscarie;
He was a shepherde and noght a mercenarie.
And though he hooly were and vertuous,
He was to synful men nat despitous,
Ne of his speche daungerous ne digne,
But in his techyng discreet and benygne.
To drawen folk to hevene by fairnesse,
By good ensample, this was his bisynesse.
But it were any persone obstinat,
What so he were, of heigh or lough estat,
Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
A bettre preest I trowe that nowher noon ys.
He waited after no pompe and reverence,
Ne maked him a spiced conscience,
But Cristes loore and his apostles twelve
He taughte; but first he folwed it hymselve.
Phonetic transcription revised, (part 2)
(Click on the image to see the transcription in detail)
That hadde ylad of dong ful many a fother;
A trewe swynkere and a good was he,
Lyvynge in pees and parfit charitee.
God loved he best with al his hoole herte
At alle tymes, thogh him gamed or smerte,
And thanne his neighebor right as hymselve.
He wolde thresshe, and therto dyke and delve,
For Cristes sake, for every povre wight,
Withouten hire, if it lay in his myght.
His tithes payde he ful faire and wel,
Bothe of his propre swynk and his catel.
In a tabard he rood upon a mere.
Ther was also a Reve, and a Millere,
A Somnour, and a Pardoner also,
A Maunciple, and myself -- ther were namo.
The Millere was a stout carl for the nones;
Ful byg he was of brawn, and eek of bones.
That proved wel, for over al ther he cam,
At wrastlynge he wolde have alwey the ram.
He was short-sholdred, brood, a thikke knarre;
Ther was no dore that he nolde heve of harre,
Or breke it at a rennyng with his heed.
His berd as any sowe or fox was reed,
weekend!
If needed we can meet next weekend to finish the presentation and the etymological commentary and also to check and improve the pronunciaton. All in order to keep our work updated
See you tomorrow!!
See you tomorrow!!
Presentation
Hey!
I think that a performance is an enjoying idea !!!! I should be grateful if we would send the portfolio 6 (hard work) on Friday , we have to include the original text and start with a handout about the presentation. I would like to discuss this matter as soon as possible, because we have to consult our doubts with Jerry.
Glo, I believe that turn the phonetic transcription into an image is a practical choice.
Please contact me via blog if you have any comment to make.
All the best!!!!
I think that a performance is an enjoying idea !!!! I should be grateful if we would send the portfolio 6 (hard work) on Friday , we have to include the original text and start with a handout about the presentation. I would like to discuss this matter as soon as possible, because we have to consult our doubts with Jerry.
Glo, I believe that turn the phonetic transcription into an image is a practical choice.
Please contact me via blog if you have any comment to make.
All the best!!!!
A PERFORMANCE!!!!!!!
Hi! What about your new ideas for the oral presentation? Gloria, you are going to watch a Passolini's film to find out much more about The Canterbury Tales. I think it's a good idea. In my opinion, it would be very interesting to do a performance, something like a pair of theatrical scenes of about 15 minutes. What do you think about?
Hi! What about your new ideas for the oral presentation? Gloria, you are going to watch a Passolini's film to find out much more about The Canterbury Tales. I think it's a good idea. In my opinion, it would be very interesting to do a performance, something like a pair of theatrical scenes of about 15 minutes. What do you think about?
miércoles, 13 de mayo de 2009
ideas
Hi!
I've been revising the phonetic transcription, and I will try to upload it here, but I am not sure how to do it if I want all the IPA characters to be visible... do I try to turn it into an image? or what do you think it is best?
In reference to the presentation, I'm going to watch tonight Passolini's version of The Canterbury Tales, to have a general idea of it, and just in case I find some image that I consider interesting to use in our presentation.
How are evolving your ideas?
I've been revising the phonetic transcription, and I will try to upload it here, but I am not sure how to do it if I want all the IPA characters to be visible... do I try to turn it into an image? or what do you think it is best?
In reference to the presentation, I'm going to watch tonight Passolini's version of The Canterbury Tales, to have a general idea of it, and just in case I find some image that I consider interesting to use in our presentation.
How are evolving your ideas?
domingo, 10 de mayo de 2009
On the presentation
Hey! I don't know if you have read the last two emails from Barry, but I have decided to start writing our daily comments on the presentation and on the portfolio 6 here from now on, due to his insistence on the use of the blog as the way to get some marks for the pre-presentation part.
In the other email he says there is some problem with our blog and the group 24's blog, but I don't really understand what is happening, because when I follow the links he has written in his email I do have access to each group's own blog. Anyway, I will send him tomorrow an email, giving to him the link of our blog just in case there has been some crossing of URL. And, if the problem is not solved, we will go to talk with him on Thursday.
As for the portfolio6 , tomorrow morning I will bring my part of the etymology. So you can take a look at it and check it. I think we are doing it correctly, but as Barry says, we have to take care with our English, and try to consult our doubts with that native boy.
See you tomorrow,
Gloria
In the other email he says there is some problem with our blog and the group 24's blog, but I don't really understand what is happening, because when I follow the links he has written in his email I do have access to each group's own blog. Anyway, I will send him tomorrow an email, giving to him the link of our blog just in case there has been some crossing of URL. And, if the problem is not solved, we will go to talk with him on Thursday.
As for the portfolio6 , tomorrow morning I will bring my part of the etymology. So you can take a look at it and check it. I think we are doing it correctly, but as Barry says, we have to take care with our English, and try to consult our doubts with that native boy.
See you tomorrow,
Gloria
martes, 5 de mayo de 2009
1 24 a
2 22 and
3 19 he
4 18 his
5 12 was
6 8 to
7 7 for
8 7 of
9 6 it
10 6 that
11 6 the
12 5 but
13 5 in
14 5 or
15 5 ther
16 4 at
17 4 ne
18 4 wel
19 4 were
20 4 with
21 3 by
22 3 ful
23 3 hym
24 3 nat
25 3 sheep
26 3 wolde
27 2 al
28 2 also
29 2 any
30 2 as
31 2 Cristes
32 2 ensample
33 2 good
34 2 him
35 2 hymselve
36 2 if
37 2 millere
38 2 no
39 2 preest
40 2 shepherde
41 2 so
As we can see in this analysis of the frequency of the words in the fragment of Chaucer's text, it is obviously function words the ones which prevail, showing that at this period English language was not more a syntectical and inflectional one. We can also observe that this loss of inflections and the regularisation of the subsisting ones, makes possible a higher repetition of words such as verb forms and the demonstrative. Furthermore, We want to highlight the copular verb "To be" (in the form was and were) as the other word more frequently used apart from function words(although it is precisely a word that works as linking particle, so as to say, with a grammatical function more than with a lexical one)
2 22 and
3 19 he
4 18 his
5 12 was
6 8 to
7 7 for
8 7 of
9 6 it
10 6 that
11 6 the
12 5 but
13 5 in
14 5 or
15 5 ther
16 4 at
17 4 ne
18 4 wel
19 4 were
20 4 with
21 3 by
22 3 ful
23 3 hym
24 3 nat
25 3 sheep
26 3 wolde
27 2 al
28 2 also
29 2 any
30 2 as
31 2 Cristes
32 2 ensample
33 2 good
34 2 him
35 2 hymselve
36 2 if
37 2 millere
38 2 no
39 2 preest
40 2 shepherde
41 2 so
As we can see in this analysis of the frequency of the words in the fragment of Chaucer's text, it is obviously function words the ones which prevail, showing that at this period English language was not more a syntectical and inflectional one. We can also observe that this loss of inflections and the regularisation of the subsisting ones, makes possible a higher repetition of words such as verb forms and the demonstrative. Furthermore, We want to highlight the copular verb "To be" (in the form was and were) as the other word more frequently used apart from function words(although it is precisely a word that works as linking particle, so as to say, with a grammatical function more than with a lexical one)
sábado, 4 de abril de 2009
Text 94: Caxton's The Historye of Reynart the Foxe, 1489 version
Our modern translation
How the lion, king of all beasts, sents out his commands
that all beasts should come to his feast and court.
Chapter I
It was about the time of Pentecost or Whitsuntide
that the woods commonly are lusty and glasome,
the trees clothes with leaves and blossoms and the ground with
herbs and flowers that smell sweet and also the fowls and birds
sing melodiously in harmony. Then the lion,
the noble king of all beasts, would in the holy days of this
feast hold an open court at Standen, which he did to know
all over his land. And he commanded, by straight commissions
and commands, that every beast should comes thither
in such wise that all beasts great and small came
to the court except Reynard the fox, because he knew himself
faulty and guilty of many things against many beasts
that thither should come. And he did not dare to go
thither when the king of all beasts had assembled all
his court. There was none of them. But he had sorely
complained of Reynard the fox.
Isegrym the wolf made the first complaint of Reynard.
Chapter II
Isegrym the wolf with his lineage and friends came
and stood before the king. And he said high and mighty:
prince, my lord, the king, I beseech you that through your
great might, right and mercy that you will have pity on the
great offence and the unreasonable misdeeds that Reynard
the fox has done to me and my wife, that is to say, he is
come into my house against the will of my wife. And
there he has pissed on my children where as they lay in
such wise as they thereof are blind women, whereupon was...
Our modern translation
How the lion, king of all beasts, sents out his commands
that all beasts should come to his feast and court.
Chapter I
It was about the time of Pentecost or Whitsuntide
that the woods commonly are lusty and glasome,
the trees clothes with leaves and blossoms and the ground with
herbs and flowers that smell sweet and also the fowls and birds
sing melodiously in harmony. Then the lion,
the noble king of all beasts, would in the holy days of this
feast hold an open court at Standen, which he did to know
all over his land. And he commanded, by straight commissions
and commands, that every beast should comes thither
in such wise that all beasts great and small came
to the court except Reynard the fox, because he knew himself
faulty and guilty of many things against many beasts
that thither should come. And he did not dare to go
thither when the king of all beasts had assembled all
his court. There was none of them. But he had sorely
complained of Reynard the fox.
Isegrym the wolf made the first complaint of Reynard.
Chapter II
Isegrym the wolf with his lineage and friends came
and stood before the king. And he said high and mighty:
prince, my lord, the king, I beseech you that through your
great might, right and mercy that you will have pity on the
great offence and the unreasonable misdeeds that Reynard
the fox has done to me and my wife, that is to say, he is
come into my house against the will of my wife. And
there he has pissed on my children where as they lay in
such wise as they thereof are blind women, whereupon was...
Text 90: John of Trevisa, 1385
Text 91: Caxton's version, 1482
Our modern translation
As it is known how many kinds of people are in this island there are also many languages and tongues. Nevertheless, Welshmen and Scots that are not mixed with other nations keep near yet their first language and speech.
Also Englishmen though they had from the beginning three kinds of speech, southern, northern and middle speech in the middle of the land, as they came from three kinds of people from Germany. Nevertheless, by mingling and mixing first with Danes and after with Normans, in many things, the country language is affected and some use strange stammering, chattering, snarling and harsh gnashing.
This damage of the language comes from two things: one is because that children who go to school learn to speak English first and then they are compelled to construe their lessons in French and have done so since Normans came into England first.
Also gentlemen's children are taught from their infancy to speak French. And northern men will imitate and compare themselves to gentlemen and are busy to speak French in order to be more appreciated.
This custom was much followed before the great deth. But since it is somewhat changed. Sir John Cornwaile, a master of grammar, changed the teaching at grammar schools and construction of French into English. An other masterschools follow the same way now in the year of our Lord, 1385, the ninth year of King Richard II, and leave French at schools and use all construcions in English.
And also gentlemen have left to teach their children to speak French. It seems a great wonder that Englishmen have so great diversity in their own language in sound and speaking, which is everything in one island. And the language of Normandy is come from another land and has one kind of sounds among all men that speak it in England...
Also concerning the mentioned tongue which is divided into three it is a great wonder for men of the est with men of the west agree better with sounds of their speech than men of the north with men of the south.
Therefore it is that men of Mercia, who are from Middle England as it were partners of the extremes understand better the languages on their side, northern and southern, than northerners and southerners understand each other.
All the language of the Northumbrians and especially at York is so shrill, cutting and grating and badly pronounced that we southern men may hardly understand that language. I suppose this is because they are near to the aliens that speak strangely.
Text 91: Caxton's version, 1482
Our modern translation
As it is known how many kinds of people are in this island there are also many languages and tongues. Nevertheless, Welshmen and Scots that are not mixed with other nations keep near yet their first language and speech.
Also Englishmen though they had from the beginning three kinds of speech, southern, northern and middle speech in the middle of the land, as they came from three kinds of people from Germany. Nevertheless, by mingling and mixing first with Danes and after with Normans, in many things, the country language is affected and some use strange stammering, chattering, snarling and harsh gnashing.
This damage of the language comes from two things: one is because that children who go to school learn to speak English first and then they are compelled to construe their lessons in French and have done so since Normans came into England first.
Also gentlemen's children are taught from their infancy to speak French. And northern men will imitate and compare themselves to gentlemen and are busy to speak French in order to be more appreciated.
This custom was much followed before the great deth. But since it is somewhat changed. Sir John Cornwaile, a master of grammar, changed the teaching at grammar schools and construction of French into English. An other masterschools follow the same way now in the year of our Lord, 1385, the ninth year of King Richard II, and leave French at schools and use all construcions in English.
And also gentlemen have left to teach their children to speak French. It seems a great wonder that Englishmen have so great diversity in their own language in sound and speaking, which is everything in one island. And the language of Normandy is come from another land and has one kind of sounds among all men that speak it in England...
Also concerning the mentioned tongue which is divided into three it is a great wonder for men of the est with men of the west agree better with sounds of their speech than men of the north with men of the south.
Therefore it is that men of Mercia, who are from Middle England as it were partners of the extremes understand better the languages on their side, northern and southern, than northerners and southerners understand each other.
All the language of the Northumbrians and especially at York is so shrill, cutting and grating and badly pronounced that we southern men may hardly understand that language. I suppose this is because they are near to the aliens that speak strangely.
viernes, 3 de abril de 2009
Text 106: Sir Thomas Elyot, The Gouernour, 1531 (iii) (facsimile)
Our modern translation:
But to return to my purpose: It shall be expedient that noble people have noble manners soon in their infancy continually, as well as, they may be accustomed, little by little, to speak pure and elegant Latin. Similarly, the nurses and other women around him, if it is possible to do the same or at least that they do not speak English but that which is clean, polite,pronounced perfect and articulately,omitting no letter or syllable, as foolish women often do a silliness, whereby diverse noblemen and gentleness children ( as I do at this time), who have attained corrupt and foul pronunciation.
Our modern translation:
But to return to my purpose: It shall be expedient that noble people have noble manners soon in their infancy continually, as well as, they may be accustomed, little by little, to speak pure and elegant Latin. Similarly, the nurses and other women around him, if it is possible to do the same or at least that they do not speak English but that which is clean, polite,pronounced perfect and articulately,omitting no letter or syllable, as foolish women often do a silliness, whereby diverse noblemen and gentleness children ( as I do at this time), who have attained corrupt and foul pronunciation.
jueves, 2 de abril de 2009
Text 89: Margery Brews to John Paston, February 1477
Our modern translation:
To my right beloved valentine Sir John Paston this letter be delivered.
Right reverent , worshipful and my right beloved valentine, I entrust me to you very heartily desiring to hear of your welfare which I beseech God Almighty long for to preserve unto his pleasure and your heart's desire and if it pleases you to hear of my welfare. I am not healthy of body nor heart and I will not be until I hear from you.
No creature knows what pain I endure and for not being dead, I do not dare discover it.
And my lady, my mother had insisted about this matter to my father diligently, but she can get no more than you know of, as well as God knows, I am very sorry. If you love me as I truly trust that you do, therefore you will not leave me. Because if you had no half the livelihood that you have, for to do the greatest labour that any woman alive might, I would not forsake you.
And if you command me to keep me true wherever I go, I will truly do, with all my might, to love you and never love someone else. And if my friends say that I do amiss, they shall not let me do so because my heart's bids to love you evermore and truly all over the earthly things, and if they never be so angry I trust it shall be better in time coming.
At this time no more to you, but the Holy Trinity keeps you and I beseech you that this letter be not seen by any earthly creature save for ourselves.
And this letter was dictated at Topcroft with very heavy heart.
By your own M B.
Our modern translation:
To my right beloved valentine Sir John Paston this letter be delivered.
Right reverent , worshipful and my right beloved valentine, I entrust me to you very heartily desiring to hear of your welfare which I beseech God Almighty long for to preserve unto his pleasure and your heart's desire and if it pleases you to hear of my welfare. I am not healthy of body nor heart and I will not be until I hear from you.
No creature knows what pain I endure and for not being dead, I do not dare discover it.
And my lady, my mother had insisted about this matter to my father diligently, but she can get no more than you know of, as well as God knows, I am very sorry. If you love me as I truly trust that you do, therefore you will not leave me. Because if you had no half the livelihood that you have, for to do the greatest labour that any woman alive might, I would not forsake you.
And if you command me to keep me true wherever I go, I will truly do, with all my might, to love you and never love someone else. And if my friends say that I do amiss, they shall not let me do so because my heart's bids to love you evermore and truly all over the earthly things, and if they never be so angry I trust it shall be better in time coming.
At this time no more to you, but the Holy Trinity keeps you and I beseech you that this letter be not seen by any earthly creature save for ourselves.
And this letter was dictated at Topcroft with very heavy heart.
By your own M B.
miércoles, 1 de abril de 2009
Text 86: The Boke of Margery Kempe(iii)
Difficult words from the text:
tretys: treatise, text
wrecchys: wretches
solas: solace, spiritual comfort
vnspecabyl: unspeakable, indescriptible, but without the negative connotation that has in the present day use.
deyneth: deigns
nobeley: nobility
werkys: works
hynderawnce: hindrance, obstacle
Difficult words from the text:
tretys: treatise, text
wrecchys: wretches
solas: solace, spiritual comfort
vnspecabyl: unspeakable, indescriptible, but without the negative connotation that has in the present day use.
deyneth: deigns
nobeley: nobility
werkys: works
hynderawnce: hindrance, obstacle
Text 83: Letter of King Henry V, 1418 (facsimile)
Difficult words from the text:
l(t)res: letters
repacon: reparation
restitucon: restitution
attemptat: attack(s)
sugettes: subjects
trewes: truce
betwx: between
lieg: lieges
pleine: plain
woll: will (want, require)
doo sende: cause to be sent
al xoo: all those
semblable: similar
mates: matters
coseruacon: conservation
wise: way
yeuen: given
Difficult words from the text:
l(t)res: letters
repacon: reparation
restitucon: restitution
attemptat: attack(s)
sugettes: subjects
trewes: truce
betwx: between
lieg: lieges
pleine: plain
woll: will (want, require)
doo sende: cause to be sent
al xoo: all those
semblable: similar
mates: matters
coseruacon: conservation
wise: way
yeuen: given
martes, 10 de marzo de 2009
Text 81: Chaucer's The Friar's Tale (ii)
Original Text:
This worthy lymytour / this noble frere
He made al wey / a manere louring cheere
Vp on the Somnour / but for honeftee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
But ate lafte / he seyde vn to the wyf
Dame quod he / god yeue yow right good lyf
Ye han heer touched / al fo mote I thee
In scole matere / gpret difficultee
Ye han seyd muche thing / right wel I seye
But dame / here as we ryden by the weye
Vs nedeth nat / to speken / but of game
And lete auctoritees / on goddess name
To prechyng / and to scole of clergye
But if it like / to this compaignye
I wol yow / of a Somnour telle a game
Our Modern translation:
This worthy limiter, this noble friar
He always made a kind of scowling face
At the Summoner, but for courtesy
No insolent word as yet he spoke to him
But finally he said to the wife:
“My lady”, said he, “God give you a good life!
You have here mentioned, as I must tell you,
school matters of great difficulty.
You have said many things right well, I say;
But, my lady, here as we ride along our way,
We need not to speak of anything but of pleasant matters,
And leave authorities, in God’s name,
to preach and to their schools of clergymen.
But if it pleases to all this company,then
I will tell you an amusing story about a summoner.
Original Text:
This worthy lymytour / this noble frere
He made al wey / a manere louring cheere
Vp on the Somnour / but for honeftee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
But ate lafte / he seyde vn to the wyf
Dame quod he / god yeue yow right good lyf
Ye han heer touched / al fo mote I thee
In scole matere / gpret difficultee
Ye han seyd muche thing / right wel I seye
But dame / here as we ryden by the weye
Vs nedeth nat / to speken / but of game
And lete auctoritees / on goddess name
To prechyng / and to scole of clergye
But if it like / to this compaignye
I wol yow / of a Somnour telle a game
Our Modern translation:
This worthy limiter, this noble friar
He always made a kind of scowling face
At the Summoner, but for courtesy
No insolent word as yet he spoke to him
But finally he said to the wife:
“My lady”, said he, “God give you a good life!
You have here mentioned, as I must tell you,
school matters of great difficulty.
You have said many things right well, I say;
But, my lady, here as we ride along our way,
We need not to speak of anything but of pleasant matters,
And leave authorities, in God’s name,
to preach and to their schools of clergymen.
But if it pleases to all this company,then
I will tell you an amusing story about a summoner.
jueves, 5 de marzo de 2009
Text 79 Chaucer's The Parson's Tale
Our Modern translation:
After avarice comes gluttony, which is explicitly against the commandment of God. What Gluttony is?. Gluttony is an unmeasurable desire to eat or to drink, or anything else to satisfy this unmeasurable desire to eat or to drink. This sin corrupted all this world, as is well shown by the sin of Adam and Eve.
Who is accustomed to this sin of gluttony, he may withstand no other sin. He must be at the service of all the vices, that is in the Devil's treasure is where he hides himself and rests. This sin has many species of different types of Gluttony. The first is drunkenness, which is the horrible sepulture of man's reason; and therefore, when a man is drunk he has lost his reason; and this is a deadly sin. But truly, when a man is not accustomed to strong drink, and perhaps he doesn’t know the strength of the drink, or he has feebleness in his mind, or has worked hard, from which he drinks too much , therefore he suddenly caught by drink, it is not a deadly sin, but venial.
The second kind of gluttony is that the spirit of man gets into trouble because drunkenness takes the discretion away from his wit. The third kind of gluttony is when a man devours his food and has no correct manner of eating. The fourth kind of Gluttony is when, through the great abundance of his food, the moistures in his body become disturbed. The fifth kind of Gluttony is forgetfulness is produced by too much drinking, whereby sometimes a man forgets in the morning what he did even the night before.
These are the five fingers of the Devil's hand by means of he draws folk into sin.
Our Modern translation:
After avarice comes gluttony, which is explicitly against the commandment of God. What Gluttony is?. Gluttony is an unmeasurable desire to eat or to drink, or anything else to satisfy this unmeasurable desire to eat or to drink. This sin corrupted all this world, as is well shown by the sin of Adam and Eve.
Who is accustomed to this sin of gluttony, he may withstand no other sin. He must be at the service of all the vices, that is in the Devil's treasure is where he hides himself and rests. This sin has many species of different types of Gluttony. The first is drunkenness, which is the horrible sepulture of man's reason; and therefore, when a man is drunk he has lost his reason; and this is a deadly sin. But truly, when a man is not accustomed to strong drink, and perhaps he doesn’t know the strength of the drink, or he has feebleness in his mind, or has worked hard, from which he drinks too much , therefore he suddenly caught by drink, it is not a deadly sin, but venial.
The second kind of gluttony is that the spirit of man gets into trouble because drunkenness takes the discretion away from his wit. The third kind of gluttony is when a man devours his food and has no correct manner of eating. The fourth kind of Gluttony is when, through the great abundance of his food, the moistures in his body become disturbed. The fifth kind of Gluttony is forgetfulness is produced by too much drinking, whereby sometimes a man forgets in the morning what he did even the night before.
These are the five fingers of the Devil's hand by means of he draws folk into sin.
An excerpt from Thomas Hoccleve’s poem The Regiment of Princes, a tribute to Chaucer
Original text:
Original text:
Alas my worthy mayster honorable
Thys landes verray tresouur and rychesse
Deth by thy deth hath harme irreparable
Vnto vs don; hir vengeable duresse
Despoyled hath this land of the swetnesse
Of rethorik, for vnto Tullius
Was nere man so lyk amonges vs.
Also, who was hier in philosophy
To Aristotle in our tongue but thou?
The steppes of Virgile in poesie
Thow filwedist eek, men wot wel enow…
.
(Original text extracted from page 242 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
.
Our Modern translation:
Alas my worthy and honorable master,
true treasure and wealth of this land,
Death has done irreparable harm
To us by your death; her vengeful hardness
Has despoiled this land of the sweetness
Has despoiled this land of the sweetness
Of rhetoric, for since Tullius
There was no man like this among us.
There was no man like this among us.
Also, who was heir in philosophy
to Aristotle in our tongue but you?
to Aristotle in our tongue but you?
The steps of Virgil in poetry
you followed too, it is known well enough...
miércoles, 4 de marzo de 2009
Text 77: From Thomas Usk’s Appeal, 1384 (ii):
Original text:
Also, atte Goldsmithes halle, when al the people was assembled, the mair, John Northampton reherced as euel as he koude of the eleccion on the day to forn, & seyde that truly: ‘Sirs, thus be ye shape for to be ouer ronne, & that ,’ quod he, ‘I nel noght soeffre; lat vs rather al be ded atones than soeffre such a vylenye.’ & than the comunes, vpon these wordes, wer stered, & seiden truly they wolde go to a nother eleccion, & noght soeffre thys wrong, to be ded al ther for attones in on tyme; and than be the mair, John Northampton, was euery man boden gon hom, & kome fast a yein strong in to Chepe with al her craftes, & I wene ther wer a boute a XXX craftes, & in Chepe they sholden haue sembled to go to a newe eleccion, &, truly, had noght the aldermen kome to trete, & maked that John Northampton bad the poeple gon hoom, they wolde haue go to a Newe eleccion, & in that hete haue slayn hym that wolde haue letted it, yf they had myght; and ther of I appele John Northampton.
(Original text extracted from page 240 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
Also, at the Goldsmiths Hall, when all the people were gathered, the mayor, John Northampton, criticised as much as he could of the election on the previous day and said that truly: “Sirs, this sets the scene for us to be trampled under foot, and that”, he said, “I will not tolerate; let us rather die here and now than suffer such mischief.” And then the common people, on listening to these words, were stirred, and said truly they wanted to hold another election, and not tolerate this wrong, or else all die together; and then by the mayor, John Northampton, every man was told to go home and come back quickly in strength to Cheapside with all their fellow craftsmen, and I reckon there were about 30 different craftsmen, and they were meant to assemble in Cheapside to hold a new election, and, truly, if the aldermen had not come to negotiate, and persuaded John Northampton to ask the people to go home, they would have held a new election and, in the heat of the moment, would have killed anyone who tried to stop them, if they had strength; and of this I accuse John Northampton.
Original text:
Also, atte Goldsmithes halle, when al the people was assembled, the mair, John Northampton reherced as euel as he koude of the eleccion on the day to forn, & seyde that truly: ‘Sirs, thus be ye shape for to be ouer ronne, & that ,’ quod he, ‘I nel noght soeffre; lat vs rather al be ded atones than soeffre such a vylenye.’ & than the comunes, vpon these wordes, wer stered, & seiden truly they wolde go to a nother eleccion, & noght soeffre thys wrong, to be ded al ther for attones in on tyme; and than be the mair, John Northampton, was euery man boden gon hom, & kome fast a yein strong in to Chepe with al her craftes, & I wene ther wer a boute a XXX craftes, & in Chepe they sholden haue sembled to go to a newe eleccion, &, truly, had noght the aldermen kome to trete, & maked that John Northampton bad the poeple gon hoom, they wolde haue go to a Newe eleccion, & in that hete haue slayn hym that wolde haue letted it, yf they had myght; and ther of I appele John Northampton.
(Original text extracted from page 240 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
Also, at the Goldsmiths Hall, when all the people were gathered, the mayor, John Northampton, criticised as much as he could of the election on the previous day and said that truly: “Sirs, this sets the scene for us to be trampled under foot, and that”, he said, “I will not tolerate; let us rather die here and now than suffer such mischief.” And then the common people, on listening to these words, were stirred, and said truly they wanted to hold another election, and not tolerate this wrong, or else all die together; and then by the mayor, John Northampton, every man was told to go home and come back quickly in strength to Cheapside with all their fellow craftsmen, and I reckon there were about 30 different craftsmen, and they were meant to assemble in Cheapside to hold a new election, and, truly, if the aldermen had not come to negotiate, and persuaded John Northampton to ask the people to go home, they would have held a new election and, in the heat of the moment, would have killed anyone who tried to stop them, if they had strength; and of this I accuse John Northampton.
Text 76: From Thomas Usk´s Appeal, 1384 (i)
Original text:
I Thomas Vsk… knowleched thes wordes & wrote hem with myn owne honde… Also, that day that Sir Nichol Brembre was chose mair, a non after mete kom John Northampton to John Mores hows, & thides kom Richard Norbury & William Essex, & ther it was accorded that the mair, John Northampton, sholde sende after the persones that thilk tyme wer in the comun conseil of craftes, and after the wardeyns of craftes, so that thei sholde kome to the goldsmitches halle on the morwe after, & ther the mair sholde speke with hem, to loke & ordeigne howm thilk eleccion of Sir Nichol brembre might be letted; &, nad it be for drede of our lord the kyng, I wot wel eueri man sholde haue be in others top. And than sente he Richard Norbury, Robert Rysby, & me, Thomas Vsk, to the Neyte, to the duk of lancastre, to enforme hym in thys wyse: “Sir, to day, ther we wolden haue go to the eleccion of the mair in goddess peas & the kynges, ther kom jn an orrible companye of criers, no man not whiche, & ther, with oute any vsage but be strength, chosen Sir Nichol Brembre mair, a yein our maner of eleccion to forn thys vsed; wher fore we preye yow yf we might haue the kynges writ to go to a Newe Eleccion.”. And the duk seide: “Nay, certes, writ shul ye non haue, auise yow amonges yowr selue”. & her of I appele John Northampton, John More, Richard Norbury, & William Essex.
(Original text extracted from page 239-240 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Original text:
I Thomas Vsk… knowleched thes wordes & wrote hem with myn owne honde… Also, that day that Sir Nichol Brembre was chose mair, a non after mete kom John Northampton to John Mores hows, & thides kom Richard Norbury & William Essex, & ther it was accorded that the mair, John Northampton, sholde sende after the persones that thilk tyme wer in the comun conseil of craftes, and after the wardeyns of craftes, so that thei sholde kome to the goldsmitches halle on the morwe after, & ther the mair sholde speke with hem, to loke & ordeigne howm thilk eleccion of Sir Nichol brembre might be letted; &, nad it be for drede of our lord the kyng, I wot wel eueri man sholde haue be in others top. And than sente he Richard Norbury, Robert Rysby, & me, Thomas Vsk, to the Neyte, to the duk of lancastre, to enforme hym in thys wyse: “Sir, to day, ther we wolden haue go to the eleccion of the mair in goddess peas & the kynges, ther kom jn an orrible companye of criers, no man not whiche, & ther, with oute any vsage but be strength, chosen Sir Nichol Brembre mair, a yein our maner of eleccion to forn thys vsed; wher fore we preye yow yf we might haue the kynges writ to go to a Newe Eleccion.”. And the duk seide: “Nay, certes, writ shul ye non haue, auise yow amonges yowr selue”. & her of I appele John Northampton, John More, Richard Norbury, & William Essex.
(Original text extracted from page 239-240 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
I, Thomas Usk… acknowledged these words and wrote them with my own hand…Also, that day that Sir Nichol Brembre was chosen mayor, John Northampton came soon after dinner to John Mores’s house, and there came Richard Norbury & William Essex, and there, it was agreed that the mayor, John Northampton, would send for the people that at that time were in the common council of trades, and for the wardens of trades, so that they would come to the Goldsmiths Hall on the following morning, and there, the mayor would speak to them, to consider and arrange how that election of Sir Nichol Brembre might be overturned; and had it not been for fear of our lord the king, I know well that everyone would have been attacking each other. And then he sent Richard Norbury, Robert Rysby and me, Thomas Usk, to the Neyte, to the Duke of Lancaster, to inform him in this way: “Sir, today, we wished to come to the election of the mayor in God’s and the King’s peace, but there came in a horrible crowd of hecklers, who no one knew, and there, without any other right but sheer force, chose Sir Nichol Brembre as mayor, contrary to the electoral procedures that we have used in the past; consequently, we ask you to issue for us a writ from the king to hold a new election”. And the Duke said: “No, indeed, you should have no writ, sort out the matter among yourself”. And of this, I accuse John Northampton, John More, Richard Norbury and William Essex.
martes, 3 de marzo de 2009
Text 75: The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (ii):
Original text (in a South-East Midlands dialect, 14th century):
Egιpt ιs a ſtrong contre
7 manye plιous hauenys
ben therιn for there lιth
ιn eche heuene toū gret
ryches ιn the entre of the
hauene / Towarð the eſt
ιs the reðe se that rēnyth
rιght to the cete of coſ
tantyn the noble / The
contre of egιpt ιs ιn
lenthe v ιorneιs / but not
bt ιιj ιn breðe for deſertʾ
that aryn there / Betwȳ
egιp and the lond that ιs
callyd / Nūðynea arn
xιι ιoūneιs ιn ðeſertιs
the folk that wonyðe
ιn that contre arn crιſ
tene men but thy arȳ
blake of colo for the ou
gret hete that ιs there
and brennynge of the ſonne.
(Original text extracted from page 239 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
Egypt is a harsh country, and many dangerous ports are therein for there it lies in each port town great wealth in the entry of the port. Towards the est is the Red Sea that runs right to the city of Constantine the noble.The country of Egypt is in length five journeys, but only in breadth for deserts that are there. Between Egypt and the land that is called Numidia there are twelve journeys in deserts. The people that lived in that country are christian men but they are black of colour for the excessive great heat that is there and burning of the sun.
Original text (in a South-East Midlands dialect, 14th century):
Egιpt ιs a ſtrong contre
7 manye plιous hauenys
ben therιn for there lιth
ιn eche heuene toū gret
ryches ιn the entre of the
hauene / Towarð the eſt
ιs the reðe se that rēnyth
rιght to the cete of coſ
tantyn the noble / The
contre of egιpt ιs ιn
lenthe v ιorneιs / but not
bt ιιj ιn breðe for deſertʾ
that aryn there / Betwȳ
egιp and the lond that ιs
callyd / Nūðynea arn
xιι ιoūneιs ιn ðeſertιs
the folk that wonyðe
ιn that contre arn crιſ
tene men but thy arȳ
blake of colo for the ou
gret hete that ιs there
and brennynge of the ſonne.
(Original text extracted from page 239 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
Egypt is a harsh country, and many dangerous ports are therein for there it lies in each port town great wealth in the entry of the port. Towards the est is the Red Sea that runs right to the city of Constantine the noble.The country of Egypt is in length five journeys, but only in breadth for deserts that are there. Between Egypt and the land that is called Numidia there are twelve journeys in deserts. The people that lived in that country are christian men but they are black of colour for the excessive great heat that is there and burning of the sun.
Text 74: The Boke of Mawndevile
Original text (in a South-East Midlands dialect, 14th century):
Our Modern translation:
The Book of Mandeville:
...That apples born in great plentyand who cleaves an apple in twoa little beast he finds therein.To a little lamb like it isof blood, bone and also of fleshand well shaped completelyin all things except that it has no wooland men and women there most and leasteat of that fruit so with that beast.
Original text (in a South-East Midlands dialect, 14th century):
… That bereth applis grete plente
And who þat cleueth an appul atwyn
A litille beest he fyndith thereyn.
To a litille lombe liche it ys
Of bloode and bone and eke of flessh
And welle shapen atte folle
In al thinge saufe it hath noo wolle
And men and women þere meest and leest
Eten of þat frute so with þat beest.
(Original text extracted from page 238 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
The Book of Mandeville:
...That apples born in great plentyand who cleaves an apple in twoa little beast he finds therein.To a little lamb like it isof blood, bone and also of fleshand well shaped completelyin all things except that it has no wooland men and women there most and leasteat of that fruit so with that beast.
Text 73: The Travels of Sir John Mandeville (i)
Original text (in a South-East Midlands dialect, 14th century) :
Now schall seye зou seweyngly of contrees and yles þat ben beзonde the contrees þat I haue spoken of. Wherefore I seye зou, in passynge be the lond of Cathaye toward the high Ynde, and toward Bachayre, men passen be a kyngdom þat men cleppen Caldilhe, þat is a full fair contre. And þere growthe a maner of fruyt, as þough it weren gowrdes; and whan þei ben rype, men kutten hem ato and men fynden withinne a lytyll best, in flesch, in bon, and blode as þough it were a lytill lomb, withouten wolle. And men eten bothe the frut and the best: and þat is a gret mervueylle. Of þat frute I haue eten, allþough it were wondirfull: but þat I knowe wel, þat god is merueyllous in his werkes.
(Original text extracted from page 238 from Freeborn, Dennis. From Old English to Standard English. 3rd edition, New York, Palgrave MacMillan,2006)
Our Modern translation:
Now I tell you in what follows about the countries and isles that are beyond the countries I have spoken of . Wherefore I say you, in passing by the land of China towards the high India, and towards Bacharye, men pass by a kingdom that they call Caldilhe, that is a very nice country. And there it grows a kind of fruit, as if it was pumpkins; and when they are ripe, men cut then in two parts, and find them within a little beast, in flesh, bone and blood, as if it was a little lamb without wool. And men eat both the fruit and the beast: and that is wonderful. Of that fruit I have eaten, although it was....: but what I know well is that God is marvellous in his works.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)