History

Important texts for the reconstruction of the evolution of Middle English out of Old English are the Ormulum (12th century), the AncreneWisse and the Katherine Group (early 13th century, see AB language) and Ayenbite of Inwyt (ca. 1340).

The second half of the 11th century was the transitional period from Late Old English to Early Middle English. Early Middle English was the language of the 12th and 13th centuries. Middle English was fully developed as a literary language by the second half of the 14th century. Late Middle English and the transition to Early Modern English took place from the early 15th century and are taken to have been complete by the beginning of the Tudor period in 1485.

Transition from Old English