Early Modern English: Historical Events

Question 1

William Shakespeare

Answer 1

Early 1600s
Coined approx. 1700 new words

Question 2

King James’ Bible

Answer 2

1611
Spread English language
Only rich could afford the bible - did not influence peasant’s English
Couldn’t read = poor / not stupid

Question 3

First Recorded English Dictionary

Answer 3

1606
- very inconsistent [idiosyncratic lexis]
- Showed early attempts at standardising spelling

Question 4

Great Vowel Shift

Answer 4

1450 - 1650s
Conceptionalised by Otto Jespersen 1909
Pronunciation of vowels shifted
- Sparked change in letters & pronunciation correspondence
- words with same consonants between a vowel sounded the same (mankind / mankinde)
!!! ‘e’ suffix became obsolete based on a lack of pronunciation [archaic spelling system]

Question 5

Arte Of Poetrie

Answer 5

Puttenham
1589
The beginning of TEACHING standardisation
Visual speech of the court
- Standardisation was based on aristocratic use
- Language of those ‘brought up better’
:( - people were poor & could not afford

Question 6

Grammar at Large

Answer 6

Bullokar
1530 - 1609
First purposeful attempt at grammar standardisation (was inconsistent)
PAMPHLET OF GRAMMAR 1586

Question 7

Pamphlet of Grammar

Answer 7

1586
“A short introduction or guiding print, write and Reade Inglish speech: conferred with the olde printing and writing’