generate questions: Old Dutch naturally evolved into Middle Dutch. The year 1150 is often cited as the time of the discontinuity, but it actually marks a time of profuse Dutch writing and during this period a rich Medieval Dutch literature developed. There was at that time no overarching standard language; Middle Dutch is rather a collective name for a number of closely related dialects whose ancestor was Old Dutch. But they were all mutually intelligible. In fact, since Dutch is a rather conservative language, the various literary works of that time today are often very readable for modern-day speakers.
What language did Middle Dutch come from? {sep_token} What year do some researchers say marked the point when Old Dutch morphed? {sep_token} Rather than a single language, what group sharing origins in Old Dutch does the term "Middle Dutch" refer to? {sep_token} Would a text written in Middle Dutch be readable or unintelligible for a Dutch speaker today?