Early Middle English refers to the period in the history of the English language which spanned from the late 11th century to the late 12th century. This transitional phase followed the Old English period and preceded the Late Middle English era. It emerged after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, a pivotal event that introduced French influences into the English language.
During the Early Middle English period, English went through significant changes in its grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. The language began to absorb numerous loanwords from Norman French and Latin, resulting in a richer and more diverse lexicon. This linguistic evolution was driven by the merging of Anglo-Saxon linguistic structures with those of the French-speaking Norman ruling class.
In terms of grammar, declensional endings started to decline, while word order became more important. Early Middle English texts exhibited a noticeable variation in spelling and vocabulary, as different regions and dialects developed their own linguistic features.
Some notable literary works from this period include religious texts like the Ormulum and Ancrene Wisse, as well as secular works such as The Owl and the Nightingale and Layamon's Brut. However, the majority of surviving Early Middle English texts are fragmentary, making it challenging to paint a complete picture of the language during this transition.
Overall, Early Middle English was a crucial phase in the development of English, marking the beginning of a significant transformation that would shape the language into its recognizable form today.
