Dialect Variation in Northern Middle English

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Focusing on the Northern Middle English dialect area, this study utilizes four manuscripts of "The Pricke of Conscience" to reveal significant linguistic variation previously overlooked. By analyzing the codicological and sociolinguistic contexts, it explores scribal behavior to trace manuscript origins and language types. The research identifies five distinct language varieties, challenging traditional views by demonstrating that features once deemed non-northern are actually prevalent. This nuanced approach provides a foundation for future dialect studies in the region.