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Linguam ad Loquendum: Writing a Vernacular Identity in Medieval and Early Modern England

Wagner, Erin K
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429013712

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, English.
The status of the English language in late medieval England is a complicated one. Even though used relatively comfortably by secular authors, like Chaucer and Gower, religious writers were constrained by the oversight of the church and its uneasiness concerning vernacular theological discourse. The purpose of this dissertation is to look more closely at the treatment of the English language across normal genre boundaries, bringing together texts of more secular authors like Chaucer and those of theological writers like Reginald Pecock. In doing so, this project highlights a universal concern with the issue of vernacular identity. The problem of English and what it could be used for was a high-profile one, affecting not only what language writers used, but also the topics they raised. While examining the presentation of the vernacular in my chosen texts, I argue that even texts traditionally considered to be confident in their use of English, like The Canterbury Tales, are preoccupied with the subject of unrestricted speech and the nature of the English language.
Richard Green (Advisor)
Karen Winstead (Committee Member)
Ethan Knapp (Committee Member)
Hannibal Hamlin (Committee Member)
315 p.
Medieval Literature
Medieval, Vernacular, Lollardy, Chaucer, Pecock, Hoccleve, Foxe

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wagner, E. K. (2015). Linguam ad Loquendum: Writing a Vernacular Identity in Medieval and Early Modern England [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429013712

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wagner, Erin. Linguam ad Loquendum: Writing a Vernacular Identity in Medieval and Early Modern England. 2015. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429013712.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wagner, Erin. "Linguam ad Loquendum: Writing a Vernacular Identity in Medieval and Early Modern England." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1429013712

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.
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