"Of Medicineз Sedatyueз": Some Notes on Adjective Position and Oral Register in Middle English Medical Texts

Abstract

The position of adjectives in the English Noun Phrase is regarded as something quite fixed and pertaining to the level of syntax rather than to any other. In previous studies (Moskowich 2002;Moskowich -Crespo 2002; Lareo -Moskowich 2009), it has been shown, however, that there seem to be some other extra-syntactic variables at stake determining word-order patterns.This paper aims at analysing the word-order patterns of adjectives in the emerging scientific writing in the Middle Ages, particularly in medical texts written in English. To this end, several texts contained in MEMT (Middle English Medical Texts) will be analysed. As a first approach, samples belonging to the three different traditions included in the Corpus will be considered. This examination of samples from a surgical text, a specialised one and a remedy book will also help obtain some conclusions regarding the evolution in the use of the so called Frenchtype adjectives in the language.

A Study on Noun Suffixes: Accounting for the Vernacularisation of English in Late Medieval Medical Texts

“…Labov 1972) in the sense that those occupying the upper parts of the social pyramid, both in terms of knowledge and power, paved the way for future generations of English users (cf. Crespo /Moskowich 2009). Thus, I concur with Taavitsainen (2001: 188) that "scientific writing is a spearhead of culture in indicating future directions; vernacularisation of texts in this register is important for any nation".…”

“…I have already observed that the vernacularisation process can also be verified in the highest number of postponed adjectives of Germanic origin in this, the least technical text type (cf. Moskowich 2009), precisely where I have found a high number of native suffixes.…”