Thirteen Paston Letters in Search of a Standard
ISSN: 0211-5913
Year of publication: 2003
Issue: 46
Pages: 13-34
Type: Article
More publications in: Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses
Abstract
The present paper proposes an approach to the development of the so-called Standard English from a morphological perspective. To this end, we present the concept of Standard in order to show the different theoretical viewpoints from which its nature and origin have been analysed. Traditionally, when dealing with Standard most authors based their studies on spelling. However, in the last few years the validity of morphemic analysis has been recognised as a way of measuring the evolution of English in the last years of the Middle Ages and beginning of the Renaissance. Thus, we here propose the analysis of certain letters by Paston men as indicators of language change.