Apeyryng: Dialect characteristics

4. Dialect characteristics

Select a dialect area!

South-Eastern (Kentish) dialect features
Map

1. The ME South-Eastern (Kentish) dialect, henceforth SE, was derived from the OE Kentish dialect where breaking before -l + CONS occurred variably. Reflexes of the broken OE forms are typically found in ME SE:

beald, çeald, eald, healdan > ME SE bñld, chñld, ñld, hñld

Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2. Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in SE:

ä > ø (south of the Humber)     stän > støn, swä > zuø (cf. § 16)

      after g: ä > wø, ö > wô    gän > guø, göd > guôd

(ëo >) ïo > eME ie > iê (C12)    bëoþ > byêþ, dëofol > dyêvel, lïornian > lyêrny (cf. § 19, § 23)

ëa > iä (a after r) (C12)    dëad > dyäd; grëat > grat (cf. § 21)

eo > Ö > e    heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)

ea > æ > a    eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward (cf. § 8)

      (but cf. OE K æ > e    wæs > wes, þæt > þet, hwæt > huet) (cf. § 2)

y > e    synn > zenne, dyde > dede, çyriçe > cherche (cf. § 3)

ÿ > ê    mÿs > mês (cf. § 10)

s- > z-, f- > v-    sôþ > zöþ, for > vor (cf. § 74)

3. Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:

Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):

macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen

NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):

sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

4. Forms:

a. hi ('she')

b. hi, hy nom., hem, ham dat./acc. ('they', 'them')

c. -inde pr.p.

d. -(e)þ 3 sg. pres.

e. -eþ pl. pres.

f. -eþ pl. imp.

South-Western dialect features
Map

1. The ME South-Western dialect, henceforth SW, was derived from the OE West-Saxon dialect with breaking before -l + CONS:

beald, çeald, eald, healdan > ME SW bñld, chñld, ñld, hñld

Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2. Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in SW:

ä > ø (south of the Humber)     stän > støn, swä > s(w)ø (cf. § 16)

ëo > Ô > ê (c. 1400)    bëon > bÔn > bên (cf. § 18)

ëa > ñ    lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)

eo > Ö > e    heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)

(ea) > æ > a    eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward; wæs > was (cf. § 2, § 8)

y remained in early ME (Ü) > i (c. 1400)    hyll > hÜll > hill (cf. § 3)

ÿ remained in early ME (Û) > ï (c. 1400)    mÿs > mÛs > mïs (cf. § 10)

s- > z-, f- > v-    secgan > (typically written seggen), for > vor (cf. § 74)

3. Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:

Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):

macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen

NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):

sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

4. Forms:

a. heo, ho ('she')

b. hi(e) nom., hem dat./acc. ('they', 'them')

c. -inde pr.p. (-ing)

d. -(e)þ 3 sg. pres.

e. -(e)þ pl. pres.

f. -eþ pl. imp.

West Midland dialect features
Map

1. The ME West Midland dialect, henceforth WM, was derived from the OE Mercian dialect with no breaking before -l + CONS:

bald, cald, ald, haldan > ME WM bøld, cøld, øld, høld

Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2. Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in WM:

ä > ø (south of the Humber)     stän > støn, swä > s(w)ø (cf. § 16)

ëo > Ô > ë (c. 1400)    bëon > bÔn > bën (cf. § 18)

ëa > ñ    lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)

eo > Ö > e    heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)

ea > æ > a    eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward (cf. § 8)

      (but cf. OE South-West Mercian (> sWM) æ > e    wæs > wes, þæt > þet, hwæt > huet) (cf. § 2)

æ > a (nWM)    wæs > was (cf. § 2)

a > o (before nasal)    man > mon, þancian > þonken (cf. § 68)

y remained in early ME (Ü) > i (c. 1400)    hyll > hÜll > hill (cf. § 3)

ÿ remained in early ME (Û) > ï (c. 1400)    mÿs > mÛs > mïs (cf. § 10)

3. Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:

a. Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):

macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen

NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):

sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

b. Lengthening (and lowering) of i, u (N., N.Midl., c. 1300; cf. §§ 33-35):

yfel > ivel > êvel / iveles gen.
wicu > wik / wêkes pl. ('week')
bysiî > bisi > bêsi / bisiness derivative
sunu > sun / sônes pl. ('son')
sumor > sômer / sumeres pl.

4. Forms:

a. heo, ha (sWM); ho, scho (nWM) ('she')

b. heo, ha nom., ham dat./acc. (sWM); þay nom., hem dat./acc. (nWM); ('they', 'them')

c. -inde (sWM); (-ande) (nWM) pr.p.

d. -(e)þ (sWM); -(e)õ -(e)s (nWM) 3 sg. pres.

e. -eþ (sWM); - (nWM) pl. pres.

f. -(e)þ (sWM); -(e)õ -(e)s (nWM) pl. imp.

Northern dialect features
Map

1. The ME Northern dialect, henceforth N, was derived from the OE Northumbrian dialect with no breaking before -l + CONS:

bald, cald, ald, haldan > ME N bäld, cäld, äld, häld

Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2. Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in N:

ä remains in eME > ñ (c. 1300)    stän > stñn (cf. § 17)

æî > ai > ñ (c. 1300)    dæî > dai > dñ (cf. § 40)

eî > ei > ê (c. 1300)    weî > wei > wê (cf. § 48)

ëo > Ô > ê    bëon > bÔn > bën (cf. § 18)

ëa > ñ    lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)

eo > Ö > e    heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)

(ea) > æ > a    eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward, wæs > was (cf. § 2, § 8)

y > i    hyll > hill (cf. § 3)

ÿ > ï    mÿs > mïs (cf. § 10)

ö > (typically written ui) (c. 1300)    blöd > bl£d, göd > g£d (cf. § 13)

3. Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:

a. Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):

macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen

NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):

sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

b. Lengthening (and lowering) of i, u (N., N.Midl., c. 1300; cf. § 33-35):

yfel > ivel > êvel / iveles gen.
wicu > wik / wêkes pl. ('week')
bysiî > bisi > bêsi / bisiness derivative
sunu > sun / sônes pl. ('son')
sumor > sômer / sumeres pl.

4. Forms:

a. scho (sche late ME) ('she')

b. þey, þe3, þai, þay, thay nom., þaim, þam(e) dat./acc. ('they', 'them')

c. -and pr.p.

d. -(e)s 3 sg. pres.

e. -es pl. pres.

f. -(e)s pl. imp.

East Midland dialect features
Map

1. THE ME East Midland dialect, henceforth EM, was derived from the OE Mercian dialect with no breaking before -l + CONS:

bald, cald, ald, haldan > ME EM bøld, cøld, øld, høld

Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2. Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in EM:

ä > ø (south of the Humber)     stän > støn, swä > s(w)ø (cf. § 16)

ëo > Ô > ê    bëon > bÔn > bên (cf. § 18)

ëa > ñ    lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)

eo > Ö > e    heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)

(ea) > æ > a    eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward, wæs > was (cf. § 2, § 8)

y > i    hyll > hill (cf. § 3)

ÿ > ï    mÿs > mïs (cf. § 10)

3. Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:

a. Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):

macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen

NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):

sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

b. Lengthening (and lowering) of i, u (N., N.Midl., c. 1300; cf. §§ 33-35):

yfel > ivel > êvel / iveles gen.
wicu > wik / wêkes pl. ('week')
bysiî > bisi > bêsi / bisiness derivative
sunu > sun / sônes pl. ('son')
sumor > sômer / sumeres pl.

4. Forms:

a. sche (scho nEM) ('she')

b. þey, þe3 nom., hem (them lME) dat./acc. ('they', 'them')

c. -ing (-ende East Anglia) pr.p.

d. -(e)þ (-(e)s lME) 3 sg. pres.

e. -e(n) pl. pres.

f. -e pl. imp.

— ¦ –

1.	The ME South-Eastern (Kentish) dialect, henceforth SE, was derived from the OE Kentish dialect where breaking before -l + CONS occurred variably. Reflexes of the broken OE forms are typically found in ME SE:
	beald, çeald, eald, healdan > ME SE bñld, chñld, ñld, hñld
	Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2.	Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in SE:
	ä > ø (south of the Humber) stän > støn, swä > zuø (cf. § 16)
	after g: ä > wø, ö > wô gän > guø, göd > guôd
	(ëo >) ïo > eME ie > iê (C12) bëoþ > byêþ, dëofol > dyêvel, lïornian > lyêrny (cf. § 19, § 23)
	ëa > iä (a after r) (C12) dëad > dyäd; grëat > grat (cf. § 21)
	eo > Ö > e heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)
	ea > æ > a eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward (cf. § 8)
	(but cf. OE K æ > e wæs > wes, þæt > þet, hwæt > huet) (cf. § 2)
	y > e synn > zenne, dyde > dede, çyriçe > cherche (cf. § 3)
	ÿ > ê mÿs > mês (cf. § 10)
	s- > z-, f- > v- sôþ > zöþ, for > vor (cf. § 74)

3.	Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:
	Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):
	macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen
	NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):
	sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

4.	Forms:
	a. hi ('she')
	b. hi, hy nom., hem, ham dat./acc. ('they', 'them')
	c. -inde pr.p.
	d. -(e)þ 3 sg. pres.
	e. -eþ pl. pres.
	f. -eþ pl. imp.

1.	The ME South-Western dialect, henceforth SW, was derived from the OE West-Saxon dialect with breaking before -l + CONS:
	beald, çeald, eald, healdan > ME SW bñld, chñld, ñld, hñld
	Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2.	Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in SW:
	ä > ø (south of the Humber) stän > støn, swä > s(w)ø (cf. § 16)
	ëo > Ô > ê (c. 1400) bëon > bÔn > bên (cf. § 18)
	ëa > ñ lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)
	eo > Ö > e heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)
	(ea) > æ > a eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward; wæs > was (cf. § 2, § 8)
	y remained in early ME (Ü) > i (c. 1400) hyll > hÜll > hill (cf. § 3)
	ÿ remained in early ME (Û) > ï (c. 1400) mÿs > mÛs > mïs (cf. § 10)
	s- > z-, f- > v- secgan > (typically written seggen), for > vor (cf. § 74)

3.	Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:
	Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):
	macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen
	NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):
	sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles

4.	Forms:
	a. heo, ho ('she')
	b. hi(e) nom., hem dat./acc. ('they', 'them')
	c. -inde pr.p. (-ing)
	d. -(e)þ 3 sg. pres.
	e. -(e)þ pl. pres.
	f. -eþ pl. imp.

1.	The ME West Midland dialect, henceforth WM, was derived from the OE Mercian dialect with no breaking before -l + CONS:
	bald, cald, ald, haldan > ME WM bøld, cøld, øld, høld
	Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2.	Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in WM:
	ä > ø (south of the Humber) stän > støn, swä > s(w)ø (cf. § 16)
	ëo > Ô > ë (c. 1400) bëon > bÔn > bën (cf. § 18)
	ëa > ñ lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)
	eo > Ö > e heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)
	ea > æ > a eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward (cf. § 8)
	(but cf. OE South-West Mercian (> sWM) æ > e wæs > wes, þæt > þet, hwæt > huet) (cf. § 2)
	æ > a (nWM) wæs > was (cf. § 2)
	a > o (before nasal) man > mon, þancian > þonken (cf. § 68)
	y remained in early ME (Ü) > i (c. 1400) hyll > hÜll > hill (cf. § 3)
	ÿ remained in early ME (Û) > ï (c. 1400) mÿs > mÛs > mïs (cf. § 10)

3.	Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:
	a. Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):
	macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen
	NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):
	sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles
	b. Lengthening (and lowering) of i, u (N., N.Midl., c. 1300; cf. §§ 33-35):
	yfel > ivel > êvel / iveles gen. wicu > wik / wêkes pl. ('week') bysiî > bisi > bêsi / bisiness derivative sunu > sun / sônes pl. ('son') sumor > sômer / sumeres pl.

4.	Forms:
	a. heo, ha (sWM); ho, scho (nWM) ('she')
	b. heo, ha nom., ham dat./acc. (sWM); þay nom., hem dat./acc. (nWM); ('they', 'them')
	c. -inde (sWM); (-ande) (nWM) pr.p.
	d. -(e)þ (sWM); -(e)õ -(e)s (nWM) 3 sg. pres.
	e. -eþ (sWM); - (nWM) pl. pres.
	f. -(e)þ (sWM); -(e)õ -(e)s (nWM) pl. imp.

1.	The ME Northern dialect, henceforth N, was derived from the OE Northumbrian dialect with no breaking before -l + CONS:
	bald, cald, ald, haldan > ME N bäld, cäld, äld, häld
	Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2.	Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in N:
	ä remains in eME > ñ (c. 1300) stän > stñn (cf. § 17)
	æî > ai > ñ (c. 1300) dæî > dai > dñ (cf. § 40)
	eî > ei > ê (c. 1300) weî > wei > wê (cf. § 48)
	ëo > Ô > ê bëon > bÔn > bën (cf. § 18)
	ëa > ñ lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)
	eo > Ö > e heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)
	(ea) > æ > a eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward, wæs > was (cf. § 2, § 8)
	y > i hyll > hill (cf. § 3)
	ÿ > ï mÿs > mïs (cf. § 10)
	ö > (typically written ui) (c. 1300) blöd > bl£d, göd > g£d (cf. § 13)

3.	Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:
	a. Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):
	macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen
	NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):
	sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles
	b. Lengthening (and lowering) of i, u (N., N.Midl., c. 1300; cf. § 33-35):
	yfel > ivel > êvel / iveles gen. wicu > wik / wêkes pl. ('week') bysiî > bisi > bêsi / bisiness derivative sunu > sun / sônes pl. ('son') sumor > sômer / sumeres pl.

4.	Forms:
	a. scho (sche late ME) ('she')
	b. þey, þe3, þai, þay, thay nom., þaim, þam(e) dat./acc. ('they', 'them')
	c. -and pr.p.
	d. -(e)s 3 sg. pres.
	e. -es pl. pres.
	f. -(e)s pl. imp.

1.	THE ME East Midland dialect, henceforth EM, was derived from the OE Mercian dialect with no breaking before -l + CONS:
	bald, cald, ald, haldan > ME EM bøld, cøld, øld, høld
	Note lengthening of vowel before -ld, -rd, -mb, -nd, -ng in late OE. (cf. § 25)

2.	Independent eME vowel/consonant changes in EM:
	ä > ø (south of the Humber) stän > støn, swä > s(w)ø (cf. § 16)
	ëo > Ô > ê bëon > bÔn > bên (cf. § 18)
	ëa > ñ lëaf > lñf, grëat > grñt (cf. § 20)
	eo > Ö > e heorte > hÖrte > herte (cf. § 7)
	(ea) > æ > a eall > æll > all, -weard > -wærd > -ward, wæs > was (cf. § 2, § 8)
	y > i hyll > hill (cf. § 3)
	ÿ > ï mÿs > mïs (cf. § 10)

3.	Lengthening of short vowel in open syllable in disyllabic words:
	a. Lengthening of a, e, o (1200-1250) (common to all dialects; cf. §§ 28-32):
	macian > mäken, beran > bñren, boren > børen
	NB: No lengthening in trisyllabic forms, which may lead to asymmetry in paradigms (and subsequent analogical levelling of forms):
	sadol > sädel / pl. sadeles, cradol > crädel / pl. cradeles
	b. Lengthening (and lowering) of i, u (N., N.Midl., c. 1300; cf. §§ 33-35):
	yfel > ivel > êvel / iveles gen. wicu > wik / wêkes pl. ('week') bysiî > bisi > bêsi / bisiness derivative sunu > sun / sônes pl. ('son') sumor > sômer / sumeres pl.

4.	Forms:
	a. sche (scho nEM) ('she')
	b. þey, þe3 nom., hem (them lME) dat./acc. ('they', 'them')
	c. -ing (-ende East Anglia) pr.p.
	d. -(e)þ (-(e)s lME) 3 sg. pres.
	e. -e(n) pl. pres.
	f. -e pl. imp.