Dialects: morphology and syntax

Question 1

What forms of “to be” were used across Middle English dialects?

Answer 1

1. Northern: used are and is.
2. Midlands: mixed forms, but leaned toward be.
3. Southern: used be, ben, beth.

Question 2

How did the 3rd person plural pronouns differ?

Answer 2

1. Northern: they/them.
2. Midlands: they/hem.
3. Southern: hi/hem.

Question 3

What was the 3rd person singular feminine pronoun in each dialect?

Answer 3

1. Northern: she.
2. Midlands: she or heo.
3. Southern: heo

Question 4

How did the 3rd person present tense marker differ across regions?

Answer 4

1. Northern: used -s (e.g., “he walks”).
2. Midlands: mixed endings, some -s and some -th.
3. Southern: used -th (e.g., “he walketh,” “they walken”).

Question 5

What were the variations in the present participle endings?

Answer 5

1. Northern: -ande (e.g., singande).
2. Midlands: -ende (e.g., singende).
3. Southern: -ing or -inde (e.g., singing, singinde).

Question 6

How was the past participle prefix used in different regions?

Answer 6

1. Northern: no prefix (e.g., made).
2. Midlands and Southern: used y- or i- prefix (e.g., y-made, i-made).

Question 7

What were the differences in the infinitive marker across regions?

Answer 7

1. Northern: used to and sometimes at.
2. Midlands and Southern: consistently used to.

Question 8

How did the use of the preposition “till” vary across dialects?

Answer 8

1. Northern: used till for “to.”
2. Midlands: primarily used to, with till appearing later.
3. Southern: used to, with till appearing later as well.