This collection of papers on Middle English provides an overview of current research dealing with manuscripts, texts and linguistic forms from a range of perspectives. The papers are organized under four main headings: The transmission of Middle English texts, Syntax and morphology, Genre and discourse and Textual afterlives.

This volume is a selection of papers presented at the 10th International Conference on Middle English held at the University of Stavanger, Norway from 31 May to 2 June 2017. The collection bridges the gap between traditional 'linguistic' and 'literary' topics and provides a holistic view of current research within Middle English studies. The papers are organized under four main headings: The transmission of Middle English texts, Syntax and morphology, Genre and discourse and Textual afterlives. The contributions deal with materials ranging from canonical works such as Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to little-studied texts such as administrative documents and scientific treatises.

Autorentext

Merja Stenroos is professor of English linguistics at the University of Stavanger (Norway). Her research focusses on Middle and Early Modern English, combining approaches from dialectology, sociolinguistics and pragmatics with studies of historical and manuscript contexts. Martti Mäkinen is senior lecturer of English at Hanken School of Economics (Finland) and holds the title of docent at the University of Helsinki. His research interests are Early English scientific writing, manuscript studies, corpus linguistics, pragmatics and historical dialectology. Kjetil V. Thengs received his PhD in 2013 and works as associate professor of English linguistics at the University of Stavanger. His research interests include historical linguistics, philology, manuscript studies and historical pragmatics. Oliver M. Traxel received his PhD from the University of Cambridge and did his habilitation at the University of University of Münster. He works as professor of English language and linguistics at the University of Stavanger. His research covers a wide range of Early English topics and currently focusses on medieval English in the modern world.

Inhalt

Scribal practice - Abbreviations in the Ancrene Wisse - Hippocratic lunaries - Late medieval administrative documents - Polar questions - Morphological conversion - Narration and argumentation in Middle English romances - Charms - Metaphor and figurative framing in Chaucer's Parson's Tale - Ælfric's Glossary