Much of the research into the medieval period in ASNC and MML coheres around the broad, interrelated themes of Contact, Transmission and Identity, with a strong focus on cultures in contact, exploration of the interaction between groups and its consequences for cultural interchange and perceptions of identity, including ethnic and religious. ASNC is characterized by its study of contacts between the various peoples of Britain, Ireland and the continent, especially Scandinavia. In MML there is a comparably strong interest in ethnic and religious identities in the context of representations of the crusades and as regards the interaction of Jews, Christians and Muslims in medieval Iberia.  Much of this work is centrally concerned with the study of multilingual societies, and with the effects of languages in contact. All the medieval research in MML and ASNC is rooted in the study of written texts, and the circumstances of their composition, transmission, and reception, and in intellectual history. Critical analysis of literary traditions is strong across MML/ASNC. Key medieval genres whose study is especially well represented include romance, fabliaux, saints’ lives, theology, devotional literature and mythological/legendary narrative.  Major themes emerging within this work include identity and hybridity, the body, gender and sexuality, and death. Much of this research is informed by engagement with critical theory.