How many dialects were popular during the age of Chaucer?

There were at least four popular dialects,the Northern,the Southern,the East Midland and the West Midland dialects. Each had its own literature and each was struggling for supremacy so that it was impossible in 1380 to say which of them would have the greater future. Chaucer chose the London dialect, "the King's English'' and his choice shows his intelligence and foresight.

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