Externarum linguarum excellens: The Rhetoric and Reality of the Languages of Gruffudd ap Cynan, Ruler of Gwynedd († 1137)
Paul Russell
This book is devoted to the study of multilingual Britain in later medieval period, from Norman Conquest John Skelton. It brings together experts different disciplines — history, linguistics, and literature - a joint effort recover complexities spoken written communication Middle Ages. Each author focuses on one specific text or type, demonstrates by example what careful analysis can reveal about nature multilingualism attitudes living languages Britain. There are chapters charters, sermons, religious prose, glossaries, manorial records, biblical translations, chronicles, macaronic poetry William Langland By addressing full range (Latin, French, Old Norse, Welsh, Cornish, English, Dutch, Hebrew), this collection reveals linguistic situation period its true diversity shows resourcefulness people when faced with need communicate. For writers readers, ability move between opened up wealth possibilities: possibilities for subtle changes register, counterpoint, playfulness, and, perhaps most importantly, texts which extend particular challenge reader engage them.
Medieval texts and cultures of Northern Europe