Geoffrey Chaucer as a sociolinguistic observer

Chaucer's mastery of language in the 14th century is highlighted through his diverse vocabulary, which includes intellectual, technical, and colloquial terms. His playful shifts between formal and informal speech, along with the use of various dialects, vividly portray the speech patterns of his contemporaries. The paper explores how Chaucer's keen sociolinguistic observations enabled him to capture and convey the richness of English vernacular, particularly in The Canterbury Tales, providing a valuable insight into the linguistic heritage he passed down.