THE MAN WHO BROUGHT ENGLISH BACK FROM THE DEAD Geoffrey Chaucer

El inglés es hoy la lengua hegemónica global, pero hace algo más de seiscientos años estuvo a punto de desaparecer bajo la dominación del francés. La obra de Chaucer, un conjunto de relatos costumbrista por donde desfila un catálogo de personajes pintorescos, consiguió insuflarle un nuevo aliento.

by SARAH PRESANT COLLINS

CULTURE English is now understood by almost a quarter of the world’s population, so it’s hard to believe that there was a point six hundred years ago where it almost died out altogether1. In 1066, William of Normandy invaded from northern France, took the English throne and there were then French-speaking kings on the English throne for almost three hundred years. LATIN AND FRENCH During this period, Latin and French became the languages of power, of government and of literature in England. English was spoken only by the peasants2, and hardly3 written down at all. Then, in the second half of the 14th century, when it was almost too late, English began to revive. There were many factors and individuals involved in this revival, but one writer in particular was…

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Speak Up (Digital) - 1 Issue, No 454

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