Language and Community in Early England

Focusing on the evolution of English as a written vernacular, the book explores its development from the 8th to the 13th centuries within a multilingual context. It highlights the role of 16th-century antiquarians in preserving medieval manuscripts and advocates for a nuanced understanding of the transition between Old and Middle English. The author emphasizes how linguistic diversity fueled community-building through practices like annotation, translation, and compilation, suggesting that these activities were essential for the textual culture of the time.