The Language Of Chaucer (the Language Of Literature)

In this book David Burnley demonstrates that an understanding of Chaucer's social, cultural, and literary world is vital to our understanding of his language and meaning. The first part of the book, drawing on modern linguistics, concentrates on the text and on approaches to interpreting the poet's grammar and syntax. The second part treats Chaucer's language and vocabulary in its broader contemporary context, dealing with language use, style and variety. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Preliminary Note....Pages 3-9 Chaucer’s Grammar....Pages 10-38 Time and Tense....Pages 39-58 Negation....Pages 59-75 Textual Coherence....Pages 76-99 Front Matter....Pages 101-101 Preliminary Note....Pages 103-107 Linguistic Diversity....Pages 108-132 Chaucer’s Vocabulary....Pages 133-155 Register and Propriety....Pages 156-176 Levels of Style....Pages 177-200 The Architecture of Chaucer’s Language....Pages 201-226 Back Matter....Pages 227-264 This is an examination of the language and literature of the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer (?1345-1400).