- Spelling is an external system, not forming part of the language itself. It is useful to remember that many languages have no written form or had no written form in the past, and they are nevertheless full languages and undergo change like any language with a written form
- A change in spelling (e.g. ful in the text) does not mean a change in pronunciation, and a change in pronunciation may have occurred although the spelling has remained the same (e.g. day or come in the text).
Let us therefore turn to other changes, changes which may be more directly relevant. Which modern forms do you think are the equivalent to the forms in bold type in the text below?
1 Bifil that in that seson on a day,
2 In Southwerk at the Tabard as I lay,
3 Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
4 To Caunterbury with ful devout corage,
5 At nyght was come into that hostelrye
6 Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye
7 Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
8 In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
9 That toward Caunterbury wolden ryde.
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