Northern subject rule
Encyclopedia
The Northern Subject Rule is a grammatical pattern inherited from Northern Middle English
. Present tense verbs may take the verbal ‑s suffix, except when they are directly adjacent to one of the personal pronouns I, you, we, or they as their subject. As a result they sing contrasts with the birds sings; they sing and dances; it's you that sings; I only sings.
In the modern Northern English
dialects, this pattern varies and now competes with standard
forms.
Furthermore, other non-standard dialectal patterns are found which developed separately from the Northern Subject Rule. These include, for example:
Some controversy surrounds its origin. Some scholars (e.g. Graham Isaac) argue for its development out of the Old English
verbal endings, but the theory has been voiced that this could be a language contact transfer feature from the Brythonic
language historically spoken in that area (e.g. H. Tristram).
This is part of the greater debate whether the Celtic languages
have had any influence on the structure of English due to the Celtic population learning the English language rapidly but imperfectly after the coming of the Saxons
.
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
. Present tense verbs may take the verbal ‑s suffix, except when they are directly adjacent to one of the personal pronouns I, you, we, or they as their subject. As a result they sing contrasts with the birds sings; they sing and dances; it's you that sings; I only sings.
In the modern Northern English
Northern English
Northern English is a group of dialects of the English language. It includes the North East England dialects, which are similar in some respects to Scots....
dialects, this pattern varies and now competes with standard
Standard English
Standard English refers to whatever form of the English language is accepted as a national norm in an Anglophone country...
forms.
Furthermore, other non-standard dialectal patterns are found which developed separately from the Northern Subject Rule. These include, for example:
- The free use of ‑s in the historic present (especially when introducing quoted speech, I says).
- The free use of ‑s as a marker of habitual semantics (I goes to work) may also occur.
- There is also a widespread tendency to level the contrast between was and were (sometimes to I were, he were, more often to we was, you was).
- The contrast between There was a raven/There were two ravens is levelled almost universally.
Some controversy surrounds its origin. Some scholars (e.g. Graham Isaac) argue for its development out of the Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
verbal endings, but the theory has been voiced that this could be a language contact transfer feature from the Brythonic
Brythonic languages
The Brythonic or Brittonic languages form one of the two branches of the Insular Celtic language family, the other being Goidelic. The name Brythonic was derived by Welsh Celticist John Rhys from the Welsh word Brython, meaning an indigenous Briton as opposed to an Anglo-Saxon or Gael...
language historically spoken in that area (e.g. H. Tristram).
This is part of the greater debate whether the Celtic languages
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
have had any influence on the structure of English due to the Celtic population learning the English language rapidly but imperfectly after the coming of the Saxons
History of Anglo-Saxon England
Anglo-Saxon England refers to the period of the history of that part of Britain, that became known as England, lasting from the end of Roman occupation and establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th century until the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror...
.