Courtly Speech in Chaucer

Author / Editor
Burnley, David.

Title
Courtly Speech in Chaucer

Published
Poetica: An International Journal of Linguistic Literary Studies 24 (1986): 16-38.

Description
Discusses the sociomoral and aesthetic qualities that constitute courtly speech, including social attitude, voice quality, brevity, plainness of speech, and sensitivity and understanding. Based on passages spoken "curteisly" in Chaucer, Burnley's analysis examines passages in three ways:address, messsage, and attitude. Language defines the person in Chaucer's courtly world.

Chaucer Subjects
Language and Word Studies.