While it might sound like a foreign language to us today, Middle English was the language of Chaucer and Shakespeare. It was a transitional phase between Old English (spoken before the Norman Conquest) and Modern English.
Some key differences between Middle English and Modern English include:
* Pronunciation: Sounds were different, and some words had different pronunciations.
* Grammar: The grammar was more complex, with more inflections (changes in word endings to indicate grammatical function).
* Vocabulary: The vocabulary was still heavily influenced by Old English and French, with many words that are now archaic.
It's important to note that English was not a standardized language during this period. Different regions and social classes had their own dialects and pronunciations.