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The Rise of Standard English
The variety that is now called Standard English came out of the local dialects of the Middle English, towards the end of the 14th century and won general acceptance in the course of the fifteenth century. The part of England that contributed most to the development of this standard was the East Midland district. The East Midland English dialect was the dialect of the London metropolis. Several factors contributed to this development: firstly, as a Midland dialect of English, it occupied a middle position between the extreme North and South. It was said to be less conservative (i.e. has more tendency to admit change) than the Southern dialect and less “radical” than the North. In its sounds and inflections it represented a kind of compromise, sharing some of the communication bridge which the dialect provided between the North and South, a 14th century translator - Trevisa, in his translation of Higden’s Polychronicon (c.1387) wrote:
TEXT 3
for men of Þe est wiÞ men of Þe west, as it wer vnder Þe same partie of heuene acordeÞ more in sownynge of speech Þan men of Þe norÞ wiÞ men of the souÞ; Þerfore it is Þat mercii, Þat beeÞ men of myddel Engelond as it were partners of Þe endes, vnder stondeÞ better Þe side languages, NorÞerne and souÞerme, Þau NorÞerne and souÞerne vnderstondeÞ eiÞer aÞer. (Baugh & Cable 2001:192)
Note: “Þ” = th, “v”=u, “u” =v, “y”=i; “ne”=n.
Secondly the East Midland district was the largest and most populous of the major areas. Places like Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk within the district were significant prosperous agricultural areas. Also the prominence of Middlesex, Oxford and Norfolk in the political affairs of England throughout the Middle English period gave the East Midland district the importance that could have enhanced its influence.
Thirdly, it was possible that the presence of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge could have had some influences on standardization process. Cambridge in particular could have exerted some influence in support of the East Midland dialect. In the 14th century the monasteries no more played important roles in disseminating information, while the two universities development into prominent intellectual centres.
Fourthly a regional standardized literary language evolved in the latter part of the 14th century, which tended towards the Central Midland districts, especially Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire, and Bedfordshire. This was evident in the large number of manuscripts by Wycliff a notable Christian writer, including sermons, prayers, poems and different versions of the Wycliffe Bible. Though this variety was spread widely, increasing its status as standard, it could not compete favourably with the large volume of written materials from the capital London.
Fifthly, the development of printing gave rise to the emergence of a Southern literary standard. This resulted in the spread of a single norm over most of the country, so much that during the 16th century it was no longer easy to identify through some linguistic features a particular dialect in which a literary work was written.
The last but the most influential factor was the emergence of London as the political and commercial capital of the country. Particularly the administrative offices of the London Chancery (political administrative office) were important and Chancery scribes adopted a standard practice. These practices interacted with those used by other London copy writers and spelling gradually became stabilized, affecting other kinds of materials including literary texts. As the seat of the judicial system, the centre of social and intellectual activities of England, London population grew rapidly with people who brought to it the traits of their local speeches to mingle with the London English. The result was a kind of give and take, beginning as a Southern and ended up as Midland dialect. And by the 15th century East Midland dialect had developed a fairly uniform dialect and the language of London conformed to it in all its important aspects.
SELFASSESSMENT EXERCISE 1
1. What is the meaning of dialect?
2. Discuss at least four (4) factors that gave rise to development of Standard English.
The Spread of the London Dialect
Towards the close of the 15th century, the London Standard had been accepted in writing in most parts of England. Except in some Northern texts, it was almost impossible to know precisely a particular region from which a particular work was written. However, variations still existed in spoken dialects.
In talking about the spread, one must admit that the introduction of printing in 1476 as we have mentioned earlier, had an immense contribution. London had been the English centre of book publishing and Caxton, the English printer used the London dialect in his numerous works. Most translations and that of those after him gave currency to the London English which showed that it had been adopted as the standard. In the 16th century the use of London dialect had become a matter of precept and practice. The author of “The Arte of English Poesie” (attributed to George Puttenham) even advised aspiring poets to use “the usual speech of the court, and that of London and the shires lying about London within 1x. myles, and not much above”. Though complete uniformity was never achieved, it was certain that the foundation of what we have today as Standard English was laid by the end of 15th century.
I am sure you have been asking in your mind, what does the London English look like? I am going to reproduce here a part of Caxton’s preface to his translation of Virgil’s Aeneid which he translated from French and published in 1490. This translation was done in the London dialect.
TEXT 4
After dyverse werkes made, translated, and achieved, havyng noo werke in hande, I, sittyng in my studye where as laye many diverse paunflettis and bookys, happened that to my hande came a lytyl book in frenshe, whiche late was translated oute or latyn by some noble clerke of fraunce, which book is namedEneydos… And whan I had aduysed me in this sayed boke, Idelybered and concluded to translate it into englysshe, and toke a penne & ynke, and wrote a leef or tweyne, whyche I oversawe again to corecte it. And whan I sawe the fayr & straunge termes therein I doubted that it sholde not please some gentylmen whiche late blamed me, saying that in my translacycons I had over curious termes whiche coulde not be understande of comyn peple, and desired me to use olde and homely termes in my translacycons… (Baugh & Cable, 2001: 195).
SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE 2
1. What factors aided the spread of the London dialect?
2. Look at the text above again. Can you identify some spelling differences from what we have in Modern English? Are there some spelling inconsistencies?
3. Compare this text with text 3, above. Are there any differences in grammar and spelling?
Conclusion
Standard English emerged as the London English, which provided a middle line among the dialects of Middle English, especially North and South. The importance of London in the 15th century as the capital of England aided the spread of the dialect. Although uniformity was not instantly achieved, it was the beginning of an accepted standard that gave rise to Modern English.
Summary
Between the end of the 14th century and the beginning of the 15th century, the London English which was more of the East Midland dialect became a standard, for the whole of England, especially in writing and in literary works. Factors that gave rise to this development and also for its spread were that the Midland dialect of English provided a compromise between the North and South, both in sounds and in its internal linguistic features. The Midland district which London was part was the largest and most populous of England’s major areas. London became the capital of England, and as the most important political and commercial centre, a written standard of communication was readily, accepted. Administrative offices and the Chancery offices also became important in terms of writing standards. The development of printing in 1476 by Caxton resulted in the spread of a simple norm over most of the country and the London English, which was the norm, became more stable. The existence of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge also contributed a great deal. Conformity to the standard was however gradual, while varieties still existed in the spoken dialects.
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