Change and Development in the English Language222 - Essay Example

Topic Sentence 2: As a result of the prominent place of the East Midland dialect, particularly after London became an East Midland-speaking city, the other dialects began to lose their original importance. Topic Sentence 3: Kentish, which was originally spoken over the whole south-eastern part of England, lost its importance in region the during Middle English period mainly due to the impact of the East Midland dialect. Topic Sentence 4: In spite of the existence of several dialects in the Middle English period, it the dialect of the East Midland that became the standard dialect of the England in the period and this dialect was derived from the Mercian dialect of Old English.

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Middle English has been the existence of a diversity of dialects and they generally correspond to the Old English Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms such as Northern, Southern, East Midland, and West Midland kingdoms. The Northern dialect of the Middle English corresponds to the Old English Northumbrian whereas the Midland dialects were close to the Old English Mercian and the Southern dialect to the West Saxon. In the course of history, the London speech with its East Midland characteristics became the standard dialect of the land. . .

is a development of the speech of London." (Pyles and Algeo, 131) The other major dialects of the Middle English included the Kentish, the Northern, and the Southern and the progress of a major dialect from among many in the Middle English contributed to the development of the language as a whole. As a result of the prominent place of the East Midland dialect, particularly after London became an East Midland-speaking city, the other dialects began to lose their original importance. Thus, Kentish, which was originally spoken over the whole south-eastern part of England, lost its importance in region the during Middle English period mainly due to the impact of the East Midland dialect.

Similarly, the Southern dialect of Middle English which was mainly spoken in the area west of Sussex and south and southwest of the Thames also was greatly affected by the emerging main dialect. However, the descendants of this dialect still continue to exist in the plebeian country dialects of the extreme southwest of modern England. The Northern Middle English, in contrast with the southernmost dialects, developed quickly and the Scandinavian influence helped its growth tremendously. However, it is the dialect of the East Midland which is recognized as the dialect of Middle English and this was derived from the Mercian dialect of Old English.

"Since the London dialect steadily gained in prestige from that time on and began to develop into a literary standard, the northern, Scandinavianized variety of East-Midland became the basis of standard Modern English. For that reason, East-Midland is by far the most important dialect of Middle English for the subsequent development of the language." (Dialects of Middle English) In conclusion, though there were different