“Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”?
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Marta Sylwanowicz
Abstract
The aim of the article is to investigate whether the Early Modern English (EModE) medical writers were aware of the role of titles in informing the reader about the content of the texts. The analysis attempts also to find out what strategies were employed to adapt the texts to the intended audience. The data come from the Early Modern English Medical Texts (EMEMT) corpus which includes texts that were published between 1500 and 1700. These texts were written by university-trained physicians and non-learned practitioners of medicine and seem to be the most representative source that provides an overview of medical practice that prevailed in Early Modern English, whether learned or non-learned.
Abstract
The aim of the article is to investigate whether the Early Modern English (EModE) medical writers were aware of the role of titles in informing the reader about the content of the texts. The analysis attempts also to find out what strategies were employed to adapt the texts to the intended audience. The data come from the Early Modern English Medical Texts (EMEMT) corpus which includes texts that were published between 1500 and 1700. These texts were written by university-trained physicians and non-learned practitioners of medicine and seem to be the most representative source that provides an overview of medical practice that prevailed in Early Modern English, whether learned or non-learned.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
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Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
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Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
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Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
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Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Uncovering layers of meaning in the history of the English language 1
-
Part I. Graphemics and phonology
- Layers of reading in the Old English Bede 19
- Unlikely-looking Old English verb forms 39
- On the importance of noting uncertainty in etymological research 63
-
Part II. Lexicology and semantics
- “A Wiltshire word, according to Kennett” 81
- Enforcing or effacing useful distinctions? 99
- The role of context in the meaning specification of cant and slang words in eighteenth-century English 129
-
Part III. Syntax
- Let’s talk about uton 157
- Exploring part-of-speech profiles and authorship attribution in Early Modern medical texts 185
- The positioning of adverbial clauses in the Paston letters 211
-
Part IV. Genres
- Complexity and genre conventions 233
- Formulaic discourse across Early Modern English medical genres 257
- “Treasure of pore men”, “countrymans friend” or “gentlewomans companion”? 301
- “I saw ye Child burning in ye fire” 319
- Name index 343
- Subject index 345
