Old Language: OLD & MIDDLE FRENCH
Indo-European > Italic > Western Romance > Old French, Middle French
Old French is considered by philologists to be a blanket term for the vernacular Gallo-Romance dialects of northern France. It was these dialects which were most affected by the arrival of the Germanic Franks in the fifth century AD. Often called the Langue d'Oïl, this linguistic area eventually succumbed to the politically prestigious Francien variety of Paris, resulting in middle French and ultimately the modern standard itself.
Old French is considered by philologists to be a blanket term for the vernacular Gallo-Romance dialects of northern France. It was these dialects which were most affected by the arrival of the Germanic Franks in the fifth century AD. Often called the Langue d'Oïl, this linguistic area eventually succumbed to the politically prestigious Francien variety of Paris, resulting in middle French and ultimately the modern standard itself.
The oldest written appearance of vernacular French is found in the Strasbourg Oaths, which, though it looks markedly different to its modern descendant, is agreed to be much closer to Old French than to original Latin. As the power of the Kings of France grew, so did their language. OF courtly literature was among the most respected in Europe. Heroic epics such as the La Chanson de Roland, comic yarns such as the Roman de Renart and the romances of the Grail Cycle gave French literature its foundation. Other Oïl varieties were eventually shunned, or fell out of use. Anglo-Norman, an important literary language in England, was one such variety, but it did not die without leaving its indelible mark on Middle English.
The Middle French period is usually said to have lasted from c.1340 - c.1610, and is usually characterised by the loss of noun-declensions. This was a turbulent era for France, which was ravaged by both the Hundred Years War and by bitter religious conflict. Regional dialects were still common in literature, and Latin was still the most common language for legal affairs.
In 1539 King François I passed the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts, which made French the sole official language of the law. This is generally seen as the first major step towards Modern Standard French, though in truth it was many centuries before regional dialects or the Occitan languages were truly superceded in everyday life.
examples of old & middle french
Pro Deo amur et pro christian poblo et nostro commun salvament, d'ist di in avant, in quant Deus savir et podir me dunat, si salvarai eo cist meon fradre Karlo et in ajudha et in cadhuna cosa, si cum om per dreit son fradra salvar dift, in o quid il mi altresi fazet, et ab Ludher nul plaid numquam prindrai qui, meon vol, cist meon fradre Karle in damno sit.
From 'The Strasbourg Oaths', c.842. (Translation: 'For the love of God, and for the salvation of the Christian people and for our common salvation, from this day forward, in so far as God gives me knowledge and power, I will help this my brother Charles both in aid and in everything, as one ought by right to help one's brother, on condition that he does the same for me; and I will never undertake any agreement with Lothair which, by my consent, night be of harm to this my brother Charles.' Peter Rickard)
Franceis i fierent de coer e de vigur;
Paien sunt morz a millers e a fuls:
De cent millers n’en poënt guarir dous.
Dist l’arcevesques : ‘Nostre hume sunt mult proz ;
Suz ciel n’ad rei plus en ait de meillors.
Il est escrit en la Geste Francor
Que bons vassals out nostre empereür.’
Paien sunt morz a millers e a fuls:
De cent millers n’en poënt guarir dous.
Dist l’arcevesques : ‘Nostre hume sunt mult proz ;
Suz ciel n’ad rei plus en ait de meillors.
Il est escrit en la Geste Francor
Que bons vassals out nostre empereür.’
From 'La Chanson de Roland' (lines 1438-1444), possibly late 11th C. (Translation: "The Franks have struck with courage and vigour; the pagans have died in swarms, by the thousand. They cannot save two from a hundred thousand men. It is written in the Frankish annals that our emperor has real vassals.’" Glyn Burgess)
Freres humains qui après nous vivez
N’ayez les cuers contre nous endurcis
Car se pitié de nous povres avez
Dieu en aura plus tost de vous mercis.
N’ayez les cuers contre nous endurcis
Car se pitié de nous povres avez
Dieu en aura plus tost de vous mercis.
François Villon, L'Epitaphe Villon (Ballade des Pendus), lines 1-4, c.1462. (Translation: "Brothers who live when we are gone, do not harden your hearts against us. For if you have pity on our poor souls, God will sooner take pity upon you.").
a short old & middle french bibliography
- Wendy Ayres-Bennet, A History of the French Language Through Texts (Routledge, London: 1996)
- Peter Rickard, A History of the French Language (Routledge, London: 1993)
- M.K. Pope, From Latin to Modern French (Manchester: 1934)
- Jacques Chaurand, Nouvelle Histoire de la Langue Francaise (Seuil, Paris: 1999)
- Simon Gaunt, Retelling the Tale: An introduction to Medieval French Literature (London: 2001)
- E. Einhorn, Old French: a concise handbook (Cambridge: 1974)
- more to follow
some old & middle french links
- more to follow
posted by petescully @ 16:20
13 Comments:
Wonderful blog... Thanks for sharing with us..
German Classes in Coimbatore
German Language course in Coimbatore
IELTS Coaching in Coimbatore
IELTS Coaching Center in Coimbatore
Spoken English Class in Coimbatore
Best Spoken English Classes in Coimbatore
This comment has been removed by the author.
Howdy! This article couldn't be composed any better! Perusing this post helps me to remember my past flat mate! He persistently continued lecturing about this. I'll advance this post to him. Almost certain he'll have a generally excellent perused. Much obliged to you for sharing!
live
Helping tech companies raise their awareness and overall profile with an effective social media and public relations strategy. If you want to know about integrated online marketing then explore all these Integrated Communications Services: Public Relations & Strategy, Social Media, Awards, Speaking Engagements, Press Release, Media Relations, Media Training, Influencer Relations, Analyst Relation and more.
Energenic Solar Systems is an Australian-based residential and commercial solar electricity provider, Headquartered in Sydney, NSW.
Thank you and Visit us more.
Our power bill was $250 in the summer. Now APS is buying power from us! Big time savings and income. Solar was the best decision we made. It sure is the future! It’s a solar installation company Arizona.
Looking For Junk Removal In Baltimore & Nearby Areas ? You no longer need to, since Clutch Junk Removal collects junk and provides reliable services in Baltimore, North Anne Arundel, and East Howard County. Our junk trash removal friendly and skilled workers do their best to follow your instructions and deliver the bulk trash pickup safely to donation centers, recycling facilities, or landfills.
The institute of best holistic courses, Natura, creates a safe and friendly way of learning, to embrace healing modalities in a natural and supported way, it can be a scary journey, but exciting at the same time when you embark on a new life path.
Are you looking for the right specialist for Renovation services in the right place? Primair Projects is the best option for you. They have a team of professionals for all such services.
Superbly written article, if only all bloggers offered the same content as you, the internet would be a far better place.
PTE institute in ambala
Best PTE Coaching in ambala
IELTS Institute in Ambala
You can install and Stream Vidgo on TV from Apple through various methods and in this blog we will share step by step instructions to setup and watch Vidgo on apple TV.
Best blog....
Bilastine Tablet 20 mg
Obeticholic Acid Tablets 10 mg
Progesterone Soft Gelatin Capsule
A complete one-window sales solution for your business. With advanced features our cloud-based POS software will boost your sales processing to a new dimension.
Post a Comment
<< Home