Features of Early Modern English Flashcards
What major event in the 15th century marked the beginning of Early Modern English?
The invention of the printing press by William Caxton in 1476.
What was the Great Vowel Shift?
A significant change in the pronunciation of long vowels in English, occurring between the 15th and 18th centuries.
How did the printing press influence Early Modern English?
It helped standardize spelling and grammar as texts became widely accessible.
Name a key figure whose works greatly influenced Early Modern English vocabulary and style.
William Shakespeare.
What is the significance of the King James Bible (1611) in the development of Early Modern English?
It standardized religious language and introduced many idiomatic expressions still in use today.
What was the primary influence of Latin during the Early Modern English period?
Latin contributed many loanwords, especially in science, religion, and education.
What is the term for borrowed words from other languages during this period?
Loanwords.
What changes occurred in Early Modern English grammar compared to Middle English?
The gradual loss of inflectional endings and the development of a fixed Subject-Verb-Object word order.
How were plurals typically formed in Early Modern English?
By adding -s or -es, though some irregular plurals from Old English remained.
What spelling characteristic was common in Early Modern English texts?
Inconsistent spelling due to the lack of standardized rules.
What is an example of a word with multiple spellings in Early Modern English?
“Knight” was also spelled as “knyght” or “knightt.”
What is “inkhorn controversy”?
A debate over the use of Latin- and Greek-derived “inkhorn” terms, viewed by some as overly pretentious.
How was punctuation different in Early Modern English compared to today?
Punctuation was less standardized and often used for rhetorical effect rather than grammatical clarity.
What role did exploration and trade play in Early Modern English?
They introduced new words from other languages, such as “tea” (Chinese) and “hurricane” (Spanish).
What is “thou” and how was it used in Early Modern English?
A singular, informal second-person pronoun, gradually replaced by “you.”
What was a typical feature of Early Modern English verb endings?
The use of -eth for third-person singular (e.g., “he walketh”).
What is an example of a word that changed meaning during the Early Modern English period?
“Naughty” originally meant “having nothing” and later came to mean “misbehaving.”
How did Early Modern English differ in vocabulary from Old English?
It included a mix of native English, French, and Latin words, reflecting changes in culture and society.
What was the impact of Samuel Johnson’s dictionary (1755) on Early Modern English?
It marked the beginning of the standardization of spelling and vocabulary, bridging Early and Late Modern English.
What were some rhetorical devices frequently used in Early Modern English literature?
Devices like metaphors, similes, and rhetorical questions were common in Shakespeare’s works and other writings.
