This course offers an introduction to Middle English (ME), which is the historical variety of English spoken and written between c. 1150 and c. 1500 CE, with a clear focus on the language of Geoffrey Chaucer (late 14th century).

We will read and translate selected texts written by Geoffrey Chaucer and illustrate the linguistic characteristics of Chaucer's ME on the levels of spelling and pronunciation, grammar (inflection and syntax), lexis, discourse and style. Sound changes like the Great Vowel Shift, general grammatical, lexical and also semantic changes will be treated within their sociocultural context.

The main coursebook is Horobin (2013).