ENG 346: Aspects of the English Language

ENG 346: Aspects of the English Language Lesson 10: Early Modern English Week: March 24-30, 2003 Place: Dial 147 Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to do each of the following: Describe the basic characteristics of and major developments in Early Modern English. Describe the historical background of Early Modern English. Identify a passage written in Early Modern English. Define relevant terms. Assignments Revise the draft of your English guide and bring it to class on Friday. Activities Think Fast: Analyze the Early Modern English passage I assign you in class. Presentations: Introduction to Early Modern English (Professor Canada), Early Modern English phonology (Elizabeth), Early Modern English morphology (Helen), Early Modern English syntax (Lance), Early Modern English lexicon (Allison) Workshop: Exchange a revised draft of your English guide with a partner. Write comments on your partner’s draft, focusing on the draft’s content, clarity, style, and integrity. Announcements: We will wrap up this lesson with announcements regarding upcoming lessons, as well as other relevant subjects. Terms Make sure you know the meaning and significance of each of the following terms: King James Bible William Shakespeare Resources The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language contains extensive information on Early Modern English. The Cambridge History of the English Language contains extensive information on Early Modern English. The Origins and Development of the English Language contains extensive information on Early Modern English. A History of the English Language contains extensive information on Early Modern English. Updated March 21, 2003 © Mark Canada, 2003 mark.canada@uncp.edu

Introduction In our last lesson, we looked at Middle English. In this lesson, we turn to Early Modern English. Discussion Early Modern English Puzzled and frustrated by the language of Hamlet or Othello, some modern readers of William Shakespeare's plays have been to known to complain that they have trouble with "Old English."  As alien as Shakespeare's language may seem at first--or second or eighth--glance, it actually is not Old English or even Middle English.  By the time Shakespeare was writing his plays in the late 1500s and early 1600s, the people of England were speaking what we now call Early Modern English.  This form of English, spoken and written from roughly 1500 to about 1700, still showed remnants of Middle English; nevertheless, it was in many respects similar to the language we speak today.  This stage of English is of particular interest to historians of American English because it coincides with the exploration and settlement of America by the English. Practice Below are some activities designed to help you master the knowledge and skills covered in this unit.   Describe the basic features of Early Modern English, providing examples to illustrate its pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and written form. In what important ways is Modern English different from Middle English? What factors led to the changes that took place in the language?  Describe the development of printing in England. What impact did this development have on the English language?  Describe the growth of the English lexicon during this period. What factors led to this growth?  In what ways do William Shakespeare's plays and the King James Bible illustrate the fluid state of the language in the early 1600s?  Conclusion In this lesson, we examined the history and features of Early Modern English. In our next lesson, we turn to Modern English.