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Author
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Topic: Middle English
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deborahknowles
Senior Member
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posted 08-14-2001 05:41 PM
  
Does anyone know of any books that would help me translate Modern English into Middle English? (ie Chaucer's time) It's for a novel. Failing that - any other ideas? I studied Chaucer at school but his ideas are limited so I'm struggling. I'd be extremely grateful!!Deborah |
Radella
Senior Member
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posted 08-17-2001 01:32 PM
chaucer was the main writer of his time, but I suggest you try a translation of Le Mort de Artur which was written about King arthur's time. I have not read it personally, but it should be written in the old tongue. Also, i have read short stories about the middle ages where people add "na" to the end of their words. ie, "couldna (could not) wouldna (would not) shouldna (should not) you are right, chaucer isn't very helpful and his poems put me to sleep. Also, though this book was not written in your preferred era, it has an English touch to it. Its called Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte. If you are writing, it couldn't be distinguished between medieval speech unless you were tlaking to a real expert. |
deborahknowles
Senior Member
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posted 08-19-2001 05:26 PM
I think your word endings are in Northern dialect, which would be what the hero of my novel would speak ( coming from Northumberland). As for Jane Eyre - shame on you! There is a slight difference between the fourteenth century and the eighteenth! Shakespeare came between and his speech is radically different to Middle English. Maybe it's just me being a fussy Brit?
"I goth a twenty devil way."------------------
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deborahknowles
Senior Member
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posted 08-19-2001 05:27 PM
Sorry, I,ve just realised those word endings are Scottish.------------------
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Gordon
unregistered
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posted 08-19-2001 06:36 PM
Mebbies aye, mebbies naw!------------------
'Demeure par la verite'
Visit; Gordon's Scottish Castles Resource Page |
Radella
Senior Member
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posted 08-19-2001 10:50 PM
sorry, deb. I'm not british. I read quiete a bit but there is a difference between hearign the words and seeing them on a piece of paper. I did really enjoy Jane Eyre though, and after reading that, it made my SHakespeare and Middle Ages reading much easier to understand. |
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