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May 2024
34m 42s

Words Words Words 13: Viking Visibility ...

Spencer Klavan
About this episode

This week we're going still further back in time, and further north, to read some Middle English from the tale of Gawain and the Green Knight. It's a galloping adventure that's been translated by some of the greats--including J.R.R. Tolkien--and reading the original is a good chance to practice dipping your toe into the more obscure forms of English that make the past feel like another country. Plus: how we appropriated Viking culture.

Pre-order my new book, Light of the Mind, Light of the World: https://a.co/d/2QccOfM

Check out our sponsor, the Ancient Language Institute (now offering Old English instruction!): https://ancientlanguage.com/youngheretics/

Subscribe to my new joint Substack with Andrew Klavan (no relation): https://thenewjerusalem.substack.com

Tips on pronouncing Middle English:

https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/cb45/middle-english-basic-pronunciation-and-grammar

https://folgerpedia.folger.edu/mediawiki/media/images_pedia_folgerpedia_mw/1/1f/How_to_pronounce_Middle_English.pdf

Recordings of expert readings:

https://www.arthuriana.com/sggk-rendall

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