This page provides the opportunity to hear the pronunciation of Middle English through a series of sound files. Samples are provided of both connected speech and the realization of individual consonants and vowels. With regard to the last, the long vowels have been selected (in preference to the short ones) because they were the focus of phonological change during the period of the Great Vowel Shift. With regard to word-final -e, this was lost during the Middle English period and pronunciation therefore varies. To activate the relevant sound file click on the text shown in green.

The Great Vowel Shift: the term used to refer to the changes, occurring at the end of the Middle English period, which affected the pronunciation of the seven English long vowels. For example, the Middle English sound [:] became [e:] and subsequently modern [i:]

Consonants

Unlike in Modern English, all elements of consonant clusters were pronounced, e.g. kniȝt(knight); gnawe (gnaw). Other features are:

Long vowels

Middle English	Pronounced with	Modern English
save; caas	[:] as in "rather"	save; case
grene; sweete	[] near to "late"	green; sweet
shires; ryde	[ ] as in "bean"	shire; ride
goode; do	[o] near to "goat"	good; do
holy; boot	[:] as in "corn"	holy; boat
hus; now	[] as in "boot"	house; now
heeth; mete	[:] as French "faire"	heath; meat

Middle English poetry

The following is an example of Middle English poetry which, according to Pyles and Algeo (1993), has its origins in the West Midland dialect. Note that <v> is written as <u> and, in one instance, vice versa. To hear the spoken version click here.

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Now ridez þis renk þur þe ryalme of Logres, Sir Gauan, on Godez halue, þa hym no gomen þot. Oft leudlez alone he lengez on nytez þer he fonde not hym byfore þe fare þat he lyked. Hade he no fere bot his fole bi frythez and dounez, Ne no gome bot God bi gate wyth to karp, Til þat he need ful neghe into þe Norþe Walez. Alle þe iles of Anglesay on lyft half he haldez, And farez ouer þe fordez by þe forlondez, Ouer at þe Holy Hede til he hade eft bonk In þe wyldrenesse of Wyrale; wonde þer bot lyte þat auþer God oþer gome wyth goud hert louied. And ay he frayned, as he ferde, at frekez þat he met, If þey hade herde any karp of a knyt grene, In any grounde þeraboute, of þe grene chapel; And al nykked hym wyth nay, þat neuer in her lyue þay see neuer no segge þat watz of suche hwez of grene. þe knyt tok gates straunge In mony a bonk vnbene, His cher ful oft con chaunge þat chapel er he myt sene. (Davis, 1967:20)

Now the gallant Sir Gawain in God's name goes Riding through the realm of Britain, no rapture in his mind. Often the long night he lay alone and companionless, And did not find in front of him food of his choice; He had no comrade but his courser in the country woods and hills, No traveller to talk to on the track but God, Till he was nearly nigh to Northern Wales. The isles of Anglesey he kept always on his left, And fared across the fords by the foreshore Over at Holy Head to the other side Into the wilderness of Wirral, where few dwelled To whom God or good-hearted man gave his love. And always as he went, he asked whomever he met If they knew or had knowledge of a knight in green, Or could guide him to the ground where a green chapel stood. And there was none but said him nay, for never in their lives Had they set eyes on of someone as such a hue As green His way was wild and strange By dreary hill and dean. His mood would many times change Before the fane was seen. (Stone, 1974: 47-8)

This recording, which is a brief extract from a selection of Middle English poetry produced by the Chaucer Studio, has been reproduced with the kind permission of the studio directors, Professors Tom Burton and Paul Thomas. Details of other Middle English recordings are available on the studio's website

Sources

Davis, N. (ed) (1967) Sir Gawayn and þe Grene Knyt, Second Edition, p20, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Stone, B. (1974) Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Second Edition, pp 45-46, Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin Books Ltd.

The Chaucer Studio (1994) Specimens of Middle English Pronunciation: Occasional Readings 9 (audio cassette).