Linguistic Past in Twelfth-Century Britain - Language and History in the Twelfth Century

This book shows how depictions of etymology were used by twelfth-century poets, translators, bureaucrats and historians to portray Britain's past.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. Methods and motivations for studying the vernacular linguistic past; 2. Perceptions of English linguistic and literary continuity; 3. Explorations and appropriations of British linguistic history; 4. The vernaculars of ancestral law: Royal administration and linguistic authority; 5. Placing French in multilingual Britain; Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

About the author

Sara Harris is a Junior Research Fellow at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge.

Summary

This study discusses how depictions of etymology and ancient documents were employed by twelfth-century poets, translators, bureaucrats and historians to portray Britain's past. A series of detailed case studies demonstrate how the vernacular hence became an important site for the construction of dynastic, institutional and ethnic identities.

Product details

• Authors: Sara Harris, Sara (University of Cambridge) Harris, Harris Sara
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2017
• EAN: 9781107180055
• ISBN: 978-1-107-18005-5
• No. of pages: 292
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Medieval; Cambridge Studies in Medieval Literature; Cambridge Studies in Medieval
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; English, Literary studies: classical, early & medieval, c 1000 CE to c 1500, Historical & comparative linguistics, Literary studies: ancient, classical and medieval, Historical and comparative linguistics