Middle English

Middle English was a language spoken in England from about 1100 to 1500. It was a transitional language between Old English and Modern English. Middle English is different from Modern English in many ways. For example, the word "she" was pronounced "shi" and the word "house" was pronounced "hous." The spelling of words was also different. For example, the word "knight" was spelled "kniht." Middle English was the language of the aristocracy and the educated class. The majority of the population, however, spoke a dialect known as Anglo-Norman. This was a mixture of Old English, French, and Latin. The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought about many changes in the English language. The new ruling class, the Normans, spoke French. This had a profound effect on the English language. Many French words were introduced into English. For example, the word "castle" is from the French word "château." The English language continued to change after the Norman Conquest. The Black Death, a plague that killed millions of people in Europe in the 14th century, had a significant impact on the English language. The plague killed so many people that there was a shortage of labor. This led to the introduction of words from other languages, such as Dutch and Scandinavian. The invention of the printing press in the 15th century also had a major impact on the English language. The first printed books were in Latin. However, soon books were being printed in English. This helped to standardize the spelling of words. Middle English was a complex language with a rich history. It was a time of great change in England, both politically and socially. This is reflected in the language.