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Linguistics 103
Chaucers Poetry
1. Pronunciation of Vowels
Diphthongs
Sequences of two (different) vowels which combine to form
the vocalic part of a syllable.
Note that there has been a shift in the pronunciation of the long
vowels (and some diphthongs) since Middle English. This
change, known as the Great Vowel Shift, occurred during the
early 16th century.
2. Location of Stress
The location of stress in polysyllabic words may differ from that
in Modern English.
Light syllables:
all others =
short vowels followed by a single consonant
short vowels at the end of a word
Otherwise,
vr, sly
4
Otherwise,
3. Pronunciation of Consonants
thynge
6
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x).
And vere honored for his worthinsse
Sometimes, as above, the [h] is no longer pronounced in modern
English, but this is not always the case and moreover it is likely
that all such instances of [h] were pronounced in Chaucer's time.
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
This ilke worth Knight hadde been also
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x).
He slepte namre than dooth a nightingle
x x) x x)x x) x x) x x)x
Thow hast translted the Rmauns of the Rse LGW.225
x x)x x) x x) x x).
In many plces were nyghtyngles RR.657
(tetrameter)
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x).
As wel of this as of ther thynges moore D.WB.584
x x) x x) x x)x x) x x) x x)
A ws wmman wol bisye hire evere in oon
7
goodnss(e)
$ x x) x x) x x) x x) x x) .
Prowesse of man, for god, of his goodnsse$
Wife of Bath's Tale&&
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
Man gruccheth of goodnsse that hymself
& Parson's Tale&&
godness(e)
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
With mercy, godnesse, and with swich pitee$
Second Nun's Prologue&&
frtune
x x) x x) x x) x x)x x).
The strook of frtune or of aventre.
& The Clerk's Tale&&
fortne
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
Wel hath fortne ytrned thee the ds,$
Knight's Tale&&
8
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
Oure Hste gan t swre as h wre wood crazy
x x) x x) x x) x x ) x x)
"Harrow," quod h, b nailes and b blood help
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x).
This was a fals cherl and a fals justce
x x) x x) x x)x x) x x).
As shmeful deeth as herte may devse
x x) x x)x x) x x) x x)
Cm(e) t ths(e) jges and hir advocts
x x) x x)x x) x x) x x)
Al-gt(e) this sly maide is slain, alls! at any rate
innocent
x x) x x)x x) x x) x x)
Alls, too dre boughte she beautee!
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
Wherfore I saye alday that men may see
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x).
The yiftes of Fortne and of Natre
x x) x x) x x) x x)x x).
Been cause of deeth to mny a cr-a-tre.
x x)x x) x x) x x) x x)
As bthe yiftes that I spke of now,
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
Men han ful ofte more for harm than prow. benefit
x x)x x) x x)x x) x x)
But nthelees, passe ver, is no fors:
x x) x x) x x) x x) x x)
I pray(e) to God so sve th gentil cors body