Late Middle English language

Late Middle English refers to the English language spoken and written in England from approximately 1400 to 1500. This period is a continuation of Middle English, which itself evolved from Old English and is the ancestor of Modern English.1

Key characteristics of Late Middle English include:
* The spread of the London literary dialect, influencing writing across England.1
* A gradual divergence of the Scottish dialect from other northern dialects.1
* The establishment of the foundational grammatical structures that would become characteristic of Modern English, particularly in noun and adjective declensions.1

During this era, English began to solidify its position as a literary medium, competing with Latin and Anglo-Norman French. Despite challenges like the Black Death and various wars, English literature, including prose and poetry, saw significant development and consolidation. Writers like Geoffrey Chaucer and John Gower were instrumental in shaping the language and its literary potential.231