Chapter 12: Standardization
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Lucia Kornexl
Abstract
Despite the ongoing debate about the appropriateness of the concept of standardization in an Old English context, scholars concur that the earliest stage of the English language exhibits clear traces of language regulation. Two major processes that differ in their linguistic character and geographical extension have been identified: (1) the so-called “Winchester vocabulary”, a lexical norm taught and practiced at Winchester cathedral school in the late 10th and in the 11th century, and (2) “Standard Old English”, an orthographic norm based on the West Saxon dialect, whose regulating effect on spelling and inflectional morphology manifests itself in late Old English manuscripts originating in all parts of England from the late 10th to the early 12th century. The sociolinguistic turn brought about by the Norman Conquest deprived the normative tendencies manifest in Old English of their linguistic foundation and their institutional support. The dearth of vernacular sources in early Middle English and the unregulated character of their language highlight the unique position Old English holds among the vernaculars of early medieval Europe as regards its great appreciation as well as its conscious handling and use by the intellectual elites of Anglo-Saxon England.
Abstract
Despite the ongoing debate about the appropriateness of the concept of standardization in an Old English context, scholars concur that the earliest stage of the English language exhibits clear traces of language regulation. Two major processes that differ in their linguistic character and geographical extension have been identified: (1) the so-called “Winchester vocabulary”, a lexical norm taught and practiced at Winchester cathedral school in the late 10th and in the 11th century, and (2) “Standard Old English”, an orthographic norm based on the West Saxon dialect, whose regulating effect on spelling and inflectional morphology manifests itself in late Old English manuscripts originating in all parts of England from the late 10th to the early 12th century. The sociolinguistic turn brought about by the Norman Conquest deprived the normative tendencies manifest in Old English of their linguistic foundation and their institutional support. The dearth of vernacular sources in early Middle English and the unregulated character of their language highlight the unique position Old English holds among the vernaculars of early medieval Europe as regards its great appreciation as well as its conscious handling and use by the intellectual elites of Anglo-Saxon England.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Chapter 1: Introduction 1
- Chapter 2: Pre-Old English 8
- Chapter 3: Old English: Overview 32
- Chapter 4: Phonology 50
- Chapter 5: Morphology 73
- Chapter 6: Syntax 100
- Chapter 7: Semantics and Lexicon 125
- Chapter 8: Pragmatics and Discourse 140
- Chapter 9: Dialects 160
- Chapter 10: Language Contact: Latin 187
- Chapter 11: English Contact: Norse 202
- Chapter 12: Standardization 220
- Chapter 13: Literary Language 236
- Chapter 14: Early Textual Resources 254
- Index 271
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Chapter 1: Introduction 1
- Chapter 2: Pre-Old English 8
- Chapter 3: Old English: Overview 32
- Chapter 4: Phonology 50
- Chapter 5: Morphology 73
- Chapter 6: Syntax 100
- Chapter 7: Semantics and Lexicon 125
- Chapter 8: Pragmatics and Discourse 140
- Chapter 9: Dialects 160
- Chapter 10: Language Contact: Latin 187
- Chapter 11: English Contact: Norse 202
- Chapter 12: Standardization 220
- Chapter 13: Literary Language 236
- Chapter 14: Early Textual Resources 254
- Index 271
