The Making of Chaucer's English A Study of Words [Hardcover]

A substantial reappraisal of the place of Chaucer's English in the history of English language and literature.This book is a study of Chaucer's words. It describes how these words became evidence for calling Chaucer the 'father of English poetry' but, also, how that label is wrong. It shows that Chaucer's language is, in fact, traditional and argues that his linguistic innovation was as much performance as fact.It provides a thorough history of every one of Chaucer's words and maps the origins and patterns of use that have made these words so compelling for 600 years.This book is a study of Chaucer's words. It describes how these words became evidence for calling Chaucer the 'father of English poetry' but, also, how that label is wrong. It shows that Chaucer's language is, in fact, traditional and argues that his linguistic innovation was as much performance as fact.It provides a thorough history of every one of Chaucer's words and maps the origins and patterns of use that have made these words so compelling for 600 years.This book is a study of Chaucer's words. It describes how these words became evidence for calling Chaucer the father of English poetry but, also, why that label is wrong. It shows that Chaucer's language is, in fact, traditional and argues that his linguistic innovation was as much performance as fact. It provides a thorough history of every one of Chaucer's words and maps the origins and patterns of use that have made these words so compelling for six hundred years.Introduction; Part I. A Study of Words: 1. The making of English and the English of Chaucer; 2. Traditional English; 3. The development of Chaucer's English; 4. Invented English; 5. The myth of origin and the making of Chaucer's English; Part II. Words Studied: Chaucer's writings; Chaucer's words. ...arguments in the book..succeed well in reading philology through a postmodern lens. Speculum