Chaucer and Language

FAIN: FT-13482-77

Susan Schibanoff
University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH 03824-2620)

To examine and collect material on peccata linguae, or "sins of the tongue" such as swearing and lying, from manuscripts, incunabulae and other sources. The invention and inclusion of peccata linguae with traditional sins reflects a new medieval concern with the ways in which human beings might err, and a new emphasis on exploring the ways in which human beings communicate with one another through language and speech. PI believes that a study of peccata linguae is an important element of any study on Chaucer’s attitudes to language, speech, and human communication.