Pardonetz moi qe jeo de ceo forsvoie : Gower’s Anglo-Norman Identity
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Neophilologus
Publication Date
10-2015
Volume
99
Issue
4
First Page
667
Last Page
684
Keywords
Gower Anglo-Norman identity, Continental French
Abstract
John Gower’s French verse has been seen as diverging from that of his Anglo-Norman predecessors, and he has often been considered as more continental in his affiliation. In this study we consider how distinctive Gower was, linguistically, in terms of the system levels of language, i.e. phonology and syntax. These aspects are investigated with respect to linguistic variables which show that where insular French diverged from continental usage, Gower’s practice was to follow Anglo-Norman rather than continental French. These findings are assessed from the perspective of his presumed authorial stance, as it developed from his earlier to his later work. Throughout his writing in French, Gower’s latent English identity remains a constant in his use of insular language forms.
DOI
10.1007/s11061-015-9442-8
Print ISSN
00282677
E-ISSN
15728668
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Springer Science + Business Media, Dordrecht 2015
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Ingham, R. & Ingham, M. (2015) ‘Pardonetz moi qe jeo de ceo forsvoie’: Gower’s Anglo-Norman Identity. Neophilologus, 99(4) : 667-684. doi: 10.1007/s11061-015-9442-8