中古英语是指1150年到1500年间所使用的英语。这个时期的英语和古英语相比,在读音和拼写,词汇和语法方面都产生了较大的变化。一大部分古英语词汇被淘汰,转而吸收了很多法语和拉丁语的词汇。
语法 中古英语吸收了大量法语的词汇,数目有几千之多。此外,中古英语还吸收了拉丁语、佛兰芒语、荷兰语、低地德语的一些词汇。同时,大量古英语的词汇由于不再使用而被淘汰。
词汇 下文載自《坎特伯雷故事集》(Tales of Caunterbury),喬叟著, 14世紀 Here bygynneth the Book of the Tales of Caunterbury
Whan that Aprill, with his shoures soote
The droghte of March hath perced to the roote
And bathed every veyne in swich licour,
Of which vertu engendred is the flour;
Whan Zephirus eek with his sweete breeth
Inspired hath in every holt and heeth
The tendre croppes, and the yonge sonne
Hath in the Ram his halfe cours yronne,
And smale foweles maken melodye,
That slepen al the nyght with open eye-
(So priketh hem Nature in hir corages);
Thanne longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
中古英语文选
古英语 近代英语 现代英语 |