But, where Chaucer’s language may at first appear disordered, much of its apparent irregularity can be explained by reference to the language’s historical development. This is especially true for modern readers accustomed to the world of Standard English and the fixity of the printed book. To a modern reader turning to Chaucer’s work for the first time, the immediate impression is of considerable linguistic chaos and confusion. The history of the English language is traditionally divided into the following periods: Old English (650-1100), Middle English (1100-1500), Early Modern English (1500-1800), Late Modern English (1800-present day) (for a general overview see Horobin 2016). Chaucer’s Middle English Simon Horobin A reference chapter from The Open Access Companion to the Canterbury Tales (September 2017)
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