And for ther is so gret diversite In Englissh and in writyng of oure tonge, So prey I God that non myswrite the, Ne the mysmetre for defaute of tonge; And red wherso thow be, or elles songe, That thow be understonde, God I biseche!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The author prays to God that readers understand his text despite dialect differences.
- In plain terms
- Please understand my writing despite our different English accents.
- What can you take from it?
- Clarity in writing matters more than perfect grammar.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do we bridge language gaps?
- Is perfect grammar necessary for understanding?
Another view
It relies on divine intervention to fix linguistic barriers.
More from Geoffrey Chaucer
Oon ere it herde, at tothir out it wente.
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