Old English (c. 450-1150 AD)
* Grammar: Highly inflected, meaning words changed their form depending on their grammatical function (case, number, gender). It had a complex system of noun declensions and verb conjugations.
* Vocabulary: Primarily Germanic in origin, with a strong influence from Norse and Latin.
* Pronunciation: Very different from Modern English. Vowel sounds were often pronounced differently, and there were more consonant clusters and sounds not found in modern English.
Middle English (c. 1150-1500 AD)
* Grammar: Lost much of its inflectional system, becoming more analytical (relying on word order and prepositions).
* Vocabulary: Borrowed heavily from French, Norman, and Latin, due to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. This enriched the vocabulary and introduced many new words into the language.
* Pronunciation: Still quite different from modern English, with vowels and consonants pronounced differently. The Great Vowel Shift, a major change in pronunciation, began during this period.
Here's a simple analogy:
Imagine you're learning a new language:
* Old English is like learning the "deep grammar" and vocabulary of the language. It's very structured and formal.
* Middle English is like learning the "everyday" language, with more simplified grammar and a broader vocabulary. It's easier to understand but still quite different from Modern English.
Here are some examples of how the languages differ:
| Old English | Middle English | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| þæt hūs | That hous | That house |
| ic wylle | I wol | I will |
| þonne | Than | Then |
As you can see, the words and their forms have changed quite a bit over time.
In summary:
Middle English is a transitional phase between Old English and Modern English. It was heavily influenced by French and other languages, and it saw significant changes in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.