EARLY MODERN ENGLISH
HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROJECT!
BY: CATHERINE BURKE
WHAT IS EARLY MODERN ENGLISH?
• According to the Collins American Dictionary, early modern English refers to “the
period of European history from the end of the Middle Ages (c. 1450)
to c. 1750.”
• Pioneers in dictionary publishing since 1819. (n.d.). Collins American
Dictionary. Retrieved July 12, 2014, from
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/american/early-modern
#1 1450-1700 A.D THE GREAT VOWEL SHIFT (INTRO.)
History of English - The Great Vowel Shift. (2012, December 7). YouTube.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyhZ8NQOZeo
#1 1450-1700 A.D
THE GREAT VOWEL SHIFT
•
The Great Vowel shift refers to the massive change in pronunciation of
terms that occurred between 1450 and 1750 during which “English lost the
purer vowel sounds of most European languages, as well as the phonetic
pairing between long and short vowel sounds.”
•
Some vowels became what are known as diphthongs and longer while
others “underwent an increase in tongue height with one of them coming to
the front.”
•
Great Vowel Shift. (n.d.). Princeton University. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
https://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Great_Vowel_Shift.ht
ml
•
The History of English - Early Modern English (c. 1500 - c. 1800). (n.d.). The
History of English - Early Modern English (c. 1500 - c. 1800). Retrieved July
13, 2014, from http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_early_modern.html
#2 INFLUENCE OF LATIN AND GREEK
• During this time period, Latin and Greek influenced spelling and
pronunciation as the English language became much more standardized and
universal.
• The presence of these Latin and Greek terms are seen in various root words.
•
What are the origins of the English language?. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from http://www.merriamwebster.com/help/faq/history.htm
#3 OVERALL TREND: PRONOUNS (THOU/THEE)
• Over time, the use of thee and thou to refer to one’s self decreased
consistently, especially with nobles/sirs. These same nobles/sirs, however,
continued to use terms such as thee and thou when addressing commoners.
• Terms such as “I” and “me” came to replace thou and thee.
• Walker, T. (2007). Thou and You in early modern English dialogues trials,
depositions, and drama comedy. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Pub. Co..
#4 OVERALL TREND: VERBS
• This change in the use and form of verbs coincided with the aforementioned
alterations to the usage of thee and thou. The introduction of phrasal verbs is
a distinct change from the influence of Latin in which phrasal verbs are not
used. Instead of using “-eth”, verbs ended with “-es.”
• Kastovsky, D. (1994). Studies in early modern English. Berlin: M. De
Gruyter.
#5 1509- APPOINTMENT OF
WILLIAM PYNSON
• Henry VIII made William Pynson the official printer in England.
• Pynson introduced type to English printing and his style of writing was
very focused upon the Chancery standard, language used by the
government.
•
1066 - Timeline: Early Modern English. (n.d.). 1066 - Timeline: Early Modern
English. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.1066andallthat.com/english_modern/timeline_early_ME.asp
•
Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Richard Pynson (English
printer). Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/484676/Richard-Pynson
#6 INTRODUCTION OF THE PRINTING PRESS
•
The printing press was brought to England by William Caxton.
Through the widespread use of the printing press and the
abundance of accessible literature, spelling became more
standardized within publications and writings.
•
The History of English - Early Modern English (c. 1500 - c. 1800).
(n.d.). The History of English - Early Modern English (c. 1500 - c.
1800). Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.thehistoryofenglish.com/history_early_modern.html
#7 1525 A.D –WILLIAM TYNDALE’S TRANSLATION
OF THE BIBLE
•
During the reign of Henry VIII, William Tyndale wanted to bring the Bible to the
people directly. Even when facing opposition from those around him, Tyndale
translated the New Testament into English.
•
•
Ninety percent of the new testament is actually Tyndale’s translation.
•
William Tyndale | Christian History. (n.d.). William Tyndale | Christian History.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/scholarsandscientists/tyndale.html
•
A timeline of the history of the English language The wonderful story of The English
Language.. (n.d.).The wonderful story of The English Language. Retrieved July 13,
2014, from http://www.englandandenglishhistory.com/the-wonderful-story-of-theenglish-language
Because of his efforts, the English language became more widespread!
#8 1534-1536 A.D ENGLISH REFORMATION/SPLIT
FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
•
Henry VIII was granted “papal dispensation” by the Pope in order
to divorce his wife Catherine of Aragon. Overall, the people of
England disapproved of this and became disillusioned with the
church as a whole. In response, Henry VIII decided to shut down all
the monasteries and create a distinct split from the traditional
Catholic church. Because of this separation, language began to
develop without the influence of foreign nations- making it more
distinct in nature.
• The Reformation. (2006, January 1). The Reformation. Retrieved July 13,
2014, from http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/reformation.htm
• King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger, Walker Art Gallery,
Liverpool. Photo Credit: Wikipedia.
#9 1539 A.D- THE GREAT BIBLE BY MYLES
COVERDALE
• Coverdale was the first person to print and distribute the Bible in
the English language. This form of the Bible was used regularly in
many churches and gave the general populace a standard for the
English language.
•
1535 Coverdale Bible Facsimile. (n.d.). 1535 Coverdale Bible Facsimile.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from http://greatsite.com/facsimilereproductions/coverdale-1535.html
•
Photo retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Holy_Scripture_(Myles_Coverdale
).djvu
#10 1549 A.D- “THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER”
• This work by Thomas Cranmer helped to standardize a majority of the
language and wording used during church services- making
churchgoers much more unified in their faith and ability to understand
scripture.
•
The 1549 Book of Common Prayer. (n.d.). The 1549 Book of Common Prayer.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1549/BCP_1549.htm
#11 1558-1603 QUEEN ELIZABETH COMES INTO
POWER
•
Elizabeth I came into power after the death of her
sister Mary. Elizabeth is best known for her
reestablishment of the Protestant church, her defeat
of the Spanish armada, and the many speeches she
gave. Through these speeches, Elizabeth exhibited an
impressive use of language and rhetoric that spurred
interest in the English language.
•
Elizabeth I: Queen of England. (n.d.). Elizabeth I.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://tudorhistory.org/elizabeth/
•
The "Darnley" Portrait of Elizabeth I. (2012, November
7). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England#
mediaviewer/File:Darnley_stage_3.jpg
#12 1590 A.D- SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYS
• William “The Bard” Shakespeare introduced language
and terms into the English language that are still used to
this day! Through his impressive use of language, he also
brought a certain sense of flexibility and originality to
the field of literature.
•
Kurlak, J., & Ference, G. (2007, January 1). William Shakespeare and his
Influence on Modern Language.William Shakespeare and his
Influence on Modern Language. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.efficientcode.com/shakespeare/influence-on- language
•
History of the World, edited by H. F. Helmolt; published by Dodd, Mead and
Company, 1902.
#13 1604 A.D- “A TABLE ALPHABETICAL” IS
PUBLISHED
•
Robert Cawdery’s “A Table Alphabetical” was the first English language dictionary
ever published. As vocabulary continued to develop and made the English language
more diverse, Cawdery’s dictionary served as a means of making this language more
accessible and understandable for the masses.
•
1604 -Cawdrey's Table Alphabeticall. (n.d.). 1604 - Cawdrey's Table Alphabeticall.
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dic/caw/1613cawdrey.html
#14 1602 A.D- THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT
• The Mayflower Compact was written by William Bradford upon the arrival of
many Pilgrims and Separatists in the New World. This document was used as a
means of unifying these individuals in their journey to separating themselves
from England and Holland.
• This document is a prime example of the prominent shift in language from
being vague and unapproachable to being more direct in nature.
• The Mayflower Compact. (2002, January 1). . Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.crf-usa.org/foundations-of-our-constitution/mayflowercompact.html
#15 1607 A.D- JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT
•
As these individuals escaped England and Holland, they developed the Jamestown
settlement in the New World. This complete separation from England resulted in a
distinct difference in language and the beginnings of dialects specific to America.
•
History of Jamestown -- Jamestown Rediscovery. (n.d.). History of Jamestown -Jamestown Rediscovery. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from http://www.apva.org/history/
#16 1611 A.D- KING JAMES VERSION OF THE
BIBLE IS PUBLISHED
• In 1611, the King James Version of the Bible is published. This version of the
Bible was closely connected to Tyndale’s translation (“The Great Bible”). This
gave the general populace a concise and unified version of the scripture so
that they may practice their faith within their own homes.
•
1066 - Timeline: Early Modern English. (n.d.). 1066 - Timeline: Early Modern
English. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.1066andallthat.com/english_modern/timeline_early_ME.asp
#17 1622 A.D- 1ST ENGLISH LANGUAGE
NEWSPAPER
• In 1622, the first English-language newspaper known as the “Courante”
(a.k.a “Weekly News”) was published. This resulted in an increase in
literacy and accessibility to literature. The “Weekly News” also began
the creation of a whole new realm of writing and a distinct type of
vocabulary.
• Morison, S. (2009). The English Newspaper, 1622-1932: An Account of the
Physical Development of Journals Printed
Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University.
in London.
#18 1623 A.D- SHAKESPEARE’S 1ST FOLIO
•
Shakespeare’s first folio refers to a compilation of around 36 of Shakespeare’s
plays. This work enabled people to read a majority of Shakespeare’s works within
their own homes and educate themselves.
•
Shakespeare's First Folio and Quartos: Printing in Shakespearean England.
(n.d.). Shakespeare's First Folio and Quartos: Printing in Shakespearean
England. Retrieved July 14, 2014, from http://www.shakespeareonline.com/biography/shakespeareinprint.html
#19 1662 A.D- NEW BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER
•
In 1662, the Church of England released a new version of the “Book of Common
Prayer.” While this version was very similar to the 1549 version, it was also distinct in
its own way. In this more recent version, language was simplified and became more
standard in nature.
•
1066 - Timeline: Early Modern English. (n.d.). 1066 - Timeline: Early Modern
English. Retrieved July 14, 2014, from
http://www.1066andallthat.com/english_modern/timeline_early_ME.asp
#20 1665-1666 A.D- THE GREAT PLAGUE
•
The Black Plague was a deadly disease that killed a large amount of
individuals within London. Because of this disease, many people fled the
city. As such, education and literature were thrown to the wayside. As such,
language remained stagnant- leaving a dark mark on an otherwise steady
change to the English language within London. This rapid exodus from
London also resulted in vast changes in many dialects present in European
nations surrounding London.
•
The Great Plague. (n.d.). 1665. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/TheGreat-Plague/
•
Great Plague of London. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plague_of_London#mediaviewe
r/File:Great_plague_of_london-1665.jpg
#21 1667 A.D- PUBLICATION OF PARADISE LOST
• In 1667, John Milton published Paradise Lost. Milton’s depiction of themes such
as morality and war is significant in its use of blank verses- similar to those of
William Shakespeare. This text in particular garnered more interest in these
topics (common themes and morals) and literature in general.
•
The Cultural Significance of Paradise Lost by John Milton by InspiredWritingResearch |
Humanities 360. (n.d.). Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/the-cultural-significance-ofparadise-lost-by-john-milton-41524/
#22 1693 A.D- UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
• With a growing population in newborn America and its many colonies,
effective communication between the colonies and Britain was absolutely
necessary. As such, continued communication between these two nations
allowed for more vocabulary to be exchanged and absorbed into each
respective culture.
• The history of the United States Postal Service. (2007, May).
Retrieved July 13, 2014, from
https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_001.htm
# 23 1755 A.D- JOHNSON’S “DICTIONARY OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE”
In 1755, Johnson published the “Dictionary of the English Language.” With a
published version of the dictionary, individuals were provided with concrete and
definitive spelling for words.
• 1755 - Johnson's Dictionary. (n.d.). 1755 - Johnson's Dictionary. Retrieved
July 14, 2014, from
http://www.bl.uk/learning/langlit/dic/johnson/1755johnsonsdictionary.h
tml
#24 OVERALL TREND: NOUNS
•
During this period of time, there was a grand effort to make the English language
more standardized and unified. As such, nouns went from an –en ending (Old English)
to an –s ending(Middle and Early Modern English)..
•
Jajdelska, E. I. (n.d.). Terttu Nevalainen. An Introduction to Early Modern
English (p. 75). (Jajdelska, E.I.W. (2008) Terttu Nevalainen. An Introduction
to Early Modern English. .
#25 OVERALL TREND: EASY CONFUSION/MULTIPLE
INTERPRETATIONS
• Throughout this period of time, there were many terms that had a plethora of
meanings. As such, readers found it difficult to interpret literature. This
confusion was later reduced by the publication of dictionaries and lexicons.
• Fitzmaurice, S. (2002). The Familiar Letter in Early Modern English: A
Pragmatic Approach. : John Benjamins Pub. Co..
LETS PUT OUR TEACHING CAPS ON!
• Through completing this assignment, I have become even more familiar with
the transformation that the English language has undergone. This project has
also enabled me to visualize and understand the strong connections that exist
between language and historical events. In the future, I will use this knowledge
to enable my students to make these same connections between these two
subjects. Having this background knowledge regarding the development of
English will make me a better teacher and allow me to give my students an
effective learning experience.
REFERENCES
• The document containing my references/citations will be posted on my weebly
along with this PowerPoint.