Modern English

Question 1

Literary texts of this time?

Answer 1

• Shakespeare texts

- King James bible

Question 2

What was the biggest transitional feature from Middle English to Early Modern English

Answer 2

THE SOUND SYSTEM: Long vowels undergone extensive alteration

Question 3

What is the main term used to describe the change on long vowels?

Answer 3

The Great Vowel Shift (tudor vowel shift)

Question 4

What is the great vowel shift?

Answer 4

A change on pronunciation of vowels.

Question 5

What caused the great vowel shift?

Answer 5

There is still disagreement between linguists but it’s argued that social factors (spreading of language to neighbourhoods) is one of the most likely causes.

Question 6

What was the most significant event in modern english?

Answer 6

Printing

Question 7

How many books were printed in europe?

Answer 7

35,000

Question 8

Who first began printing and what did he do to the language?

Answer 8

Caxton: he focused on ‘common’ English so that it could be widely recognised.

Question 9

What is the significant thing about the social aspects of this period?

Answer 9

Since printing, people have become conscious about what is ‘wrong’ and ‘right’ language: this sparked debates…

descriptivism vs. prescriptivism

Question 10

Rise of Prescriptivists in this period: who can you mention ?

Answer 10

Aitchison

Question 11

Who is significant in terms of bible printing?

Answer 11

Tyndale

Question 12

What did Tyndale do?

Answer 12

First English text to be printed.

Question 13

What is the King James bible?

Answer 13

It was a bible that wanted to put together Tyndale and Wycliffe’s versions.

Question 14

What is the two terms related to prescriptivism vs descriptivism?

Answer 14

Inkhorn vs purist.