England Without English: The Rise of the Vernacular in Medieval England

From the late twelfth century, Middle English was the first language for most of the population within medieval England, but was hardly used in writing. However, this soon began to change. In this article, Emma Bassett details the reasons why uses of the English vernacular shifted, replacing Latin and French. By exploring the significance of the growing feeling of national identity at the time, this piece brilliantly explores the relationship between the rising vernacular and widespread access to knowledge.
AUTHOR EMMA BASSETT