Homework Assignment on Van Gelderen, Chapter 7: Early Modern English: 1500

Homework Assignment on Van Gelderen, Chapter 7: Early Modern English: 1500 - 1700, Part 1

We will study and discuss van Gelderen's long and important chapter on Early Modern English (EME) in two parts.

This week we will do Part I of this chapter, Sections 1 through 4, pp. 159 - 178.

Please study these first four sections carefully. All are important. Section 1 is descriptive. It should be interesting to you and provides important background, as printing had an important influence on the standardization of English spelling, morphology, and syntax.

However, Section 2, "Early Modern English Spelling and Sounds" (pp. 163 - 169) discusses the "Great Vowel Shift" (GVS).

The GVS is so important for understanding the evolution of the English language from Middle English (ME) to EME and Modern English (ME) that we need to pay special attention to it.

The GVS is discussed explicitly on pp. 162-163. Please study these passages very carefully!

Please, also read through the Wikipedia page on the Great Vowel Shift. Since the discussion is somewhat different from van Gelderen's, you will find it helpful in remembering the details of the GVS.
It will also help you to read Michael Drout's "Lecture 12 To Modern English: The Great Vowel Shift". The link to Drout's excellent and short book of lectures is on our Home Page.

Finally (for now) here is a mnemonic to help you remember the essential points (not all the fine details) of the GVS.

After the GVS:

"My feet ache!" "So do ours!"

Before the GVS -- say in the time of Geoffrey Chaucer at the end of the 14th century, just before the GVS began, this would have been pronounced as follows:

mi fet ak sC* do urs [the C* is intended to represent the mid-mid "o" vowel in "hot". Refresh your memory of Table 2.1, page 20, of van Gelderen.

or something like "Mee fate ahke. Sah doh oors"

Please study van Gelderen pp. 166 - 167. Make sure you nnderstand the "pulled up" vs the "push up" theories (p. 167). "Up" is in reference to Fig. 7.4 on p. 166.

Drout's discussion is really very helpful here!
So is the section on Chapter 7 on van Gelderen's own web page.

I urge you to read through these two resources! They will help you understand all this material -- which is really very interesting, and very important.

Don't neglect the rest of Section 2, pp. 167 - 169. For example, note the "r-disappearance" (p. 168). Van Gelderen uses the term "rhotic and non-rhotic dialects" but does not explain this further. This Wikipedia page should be helpful.

Study Section 3 on EME Morphology, pp. 170 - 174, and Section 4 on EME Syntax (174 - 178).

Written Assignment: Please make a detailed outline of Sections 2, 3, and 4, pp. 163 - 178. (You need not include Section 1 in your outline).

That's all! No exercises. We need to go carefully over all this material.

Make notes on any and all points you would like to raise for further discussion; points that are unclear or confusing; anything at all.

Email to me. NOT to your group.

NB: As always, bring your text to class with you.