Readings in Early English

A selection of audio recordings of important Old English, Middle English and Early Modern English texts, complete with transcriptions and notes.

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Excerpts from 'The Dream of the Rood', featuring audio recordings and translations.
Excerpts from 'The Dream of the Rood', featuring audio recordings and translations.

Available both as an app for iOS and Android devices and as a website, this resource consists of a set of readings of illustrative texts from three historical periods.  The texts are divided into three Sections: Section A (Old English Texts), Section B (Middle English Texts) and Section C (Early Modern English Texts). However, it should be noted that texts spanning the transition between OE and ME, and between ME and EModE, are also included. For pedagogic reasons, the editorial principles adopted vary from text to text, and between sections, but in addition to audio recordings, the resource generally features the full text of the excerpts, translations and notes about the source material or specific words and phrases within the texts. 

Texts are drawn for the most part from standard editions and readers, with some modifications and emendations to enable them better to serve the purposes of beginners. Some in Section C are drawn from early printed books contemporary with the authors. All readings are by Professor Jeremy Smith.


Main contact: Jeremy Smith

Developer: Brian Aitken

Subject area: English Language & Linguistics

Keywords: AppHistory of EnglishLearning and Teaching

Record last updated 2020-01-28