Podcast
Questions and Answers
What significant event occurred in 1476 that impacted the English language?
What significant event occurred in 1476 that impacted the English language?
- Arrival of the printing press in England (correct)
- Introduction of Latin into English speech
- Independence of the American colonies
- First dictionary published
In the 16th century, English was widely recognized as the primary language of academia, medicine, and law.
In the 16th century, English was widely recognized as the primary language of academia, medicine, and law.
False (B)
What issues did English face in the 16th century?
What issues did English face in the 16th century?
Recognition, Orthography, Lexical enrichment
The mismatch between sound and spelling in English increased due to the _____, which was finalized during this period.
The mismatch between sound and spelling in English increased due to the _____, which was finalized during this period.
Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
Match the following concepts with their descriptions:
What was the chief intent of the movement described in the content?
What was the chief intent of the movement described in the content?
The EME period reflects a time when people wished to return to the linguistic standards of the past.
The EME period reflects a time when people wished to return to the linguistic standards of the past.
What does 'EME' stand for in the context of the content?
What does 'EME' stand for in the context of the content?
The concept of linguistic purity in English ignores the fact that English is a result of ________.
The concept of linguistic purity in English ignores the fact that English is a result of ________.
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
Match the following terms with their descriptions:
What factor contributed to a change in social mobility during the early industrialization period?
What factor contributed to a change in social mobility during the early industrialization period?
The Renaissance emphasized individualism over rationalism.
The Renaissance emphasized individualism over rationalism.
What was the primary purpose of the 1755 Dictionary of the English Language by Johnson?
What was the primary purpose of the 1755 Dictionary of the English Language by Johnson?
The King James Bible was published in _____.
The King James Bible was published in _____.
Match the following authors with their notable contributions:
Match the following authors with their notable contributions:
Which of the following concepts became less important during the Age of Rationalism?
Which of the following concepts became less important during the Age of Rationalism?
Standardization of the English language was seen as unnecessary during the rationalist period.
Standardization of the English language was seen as unnecessary during the rationalist period.
What was one of the main reasons for creating dictionaries during this period?
What was one of the main reasons for creating dictionaries during this period?
Which vowel sound in Modern English comes from the Middle English word 'mous'?
Which vowel sound in Modern English comes from the Middle English word 'mous'?
The Great Vowel Shift affected the pronunciation of 'goos' to 'geese'.
The Great Vowel Shift affected the pronunciation of 'goos' to 'geese'.
What is the Modern English pronunciation of 'broke' as it evolved from its Middle English form?
What is the Modern English pronunciation of 'broke' as it evolved from its Middle English form?
The vowel sound /eɪ/ in the word 'maid' evolved from the Middle English pronunciation /ɛ:/.
The vowel sound /eɪ/ in the word 'maid' evolved from the Middle English pronunciation /ɛ:/.
Match the following Middle English words with their Modern English equivalents:
Match the following Middle English words with their Modern English equivalents:
Which of the following words underwent a vowel shift that did not lead its form to end with /i:/?
Which of the following words underwent a vowel shift that did not lead its form to end with /i:/?
The vowel sound /ÊŠ/ is represented by the word ______ in Middle English.
The vowel sound /ÊŠ/ is represented by the word ______ in Middle English.
Explain why the words 'read' (present) and 'read' (past) have different pronunciations despite coming from the same Old English root.
Explain why the words 'read' (present) and 'read' (past) have different pronunciations despite coming from the same Old English root.
What was the primary reason for the lexical growth in English during the period of colonialism?
What was the primary reason for the lexical growth in English during the period of colonialism?
The OED recorded around 4,500 new words in English each decade from 1500 to 1700.
The OED recorded around 4,500 new words in English each decade from 1500 to 1700.
What are the two sources of the new words created in the English language during the period of 1500 to 1700?
What are the two sources of the new words created in the English language during the period of 1500 to 1700?
The past tense of the Old English verb 'rǣdan' is _____ in its first OE past form.
The past tense of the Old English verb 'rǣdan' is _____ in its first OE past form.
What was one of the main challenges faced by those with little education during the lexical growth?
What was one of the main challenges faced by those with little education during the lexical growth?
The book 'A Table Alphabeticall' aimed to assist ladies and other unskilled individuals with understanding complex English words.
The book 'A Table Alphabeticall' aimed to assist ladies and other unskilled individuals with understanding complex English words.
How many borrowings were adopted for permanent use in English during the period mentioned compared to the Middle English period?
How many borrowings were adopted for permanent use in English during the period mentioned compared to the Middle English period?
Match the following Old English verbs with their past tense forms:
Match the following Old English verbs with their past tense forms:
Which of the following is a notable change regarding the present continuous in Modern English compared to Middle English?
Which of the following is a notable change regarding the present continuous in Modern English compared to Middle English?
The present continuous was less common in Modern English than in Middle English.
The present continuous was less common in Modern English than in Middle English.
What is an example of a sentence that uses the present continuous to indicate annoyance over a habit?
What is an example of a sentence that uses the present continuous to indicate annoyance over a habit?
In Shakespeare's usage, the phrase 'I kill’d the man that was a-____ thee' demonstrates a rare structure involving present continuous.
In Shakespeare's usage, the phrase 'I kill’d the man that was a-____ thee' demonstrates a rare structure involving present continuous.
Match the examples of English grammar with their corresponding features:
Match the examples of English grammar with their corresponding features:
Which of the following statements about gerunds is true?
Which of the following statements about gerunds is true?
The vowel /i/ in 'wisdom' was shortened during the Middle English period.
The vowel /i/ in 'wisdom' was shortened during the Middle English period.
What phonetic change is observed for the sounds in 'nature' and 'procedure'?
What phonetic change is observed for the sounds in 'nature' and 'procedure'?
Flashcards
Recognition of English
Recognition of English
The acceptance and acknowledgement of English as a language equal to Latin and Greek, despite their historical dominance in academics and professional fields. This was a challenge faced by English in the 16th century.
Orthography in Early Modern English
Orthography in Early Modern English
The inconsistencies and lack of a standardized system for spelling words in English during the 16th century. This was a major problem due to the changing pronunciation of words and the influence of Latin spellings.
Lexical Enrichment of English
Lexical Enrichment of English
The process of incorporating new words from other languages into English during the 16th century. This process enriched the vocabulary of English and helped it evolve into the complex language it is today.
Great Vowel Shift
Great Vowel Shift
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Influence of Latin on English Spelling
Influence of Latin on English Spelling
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English Renaissance
English Renaissance
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Language Standardization
Language Standardization
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Rationalism
Rationalism
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Role of Dictionaries
Role of Dictionaries
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Tracking New Words
Tracking New Words
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Johnson's Dictionary
Johnson's Dictionary
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Motivation for Standardization
Motivation for Standardization
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Johnson's Exclusions
Johnson's Exclusions
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English Language Purity Movement
English Language Purity Movement
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English Language Borrowings
English Language Borrowings
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Nostalgia for Linguistic Standards
Nostalgia for Linguistic Standards
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Rejection of Foreign Vocabulary
Rejection of Foreign Vocabulary
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English: A Product of Borrowing
English: A Product of Borrowing
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Great Vowel Shift (GVS)
Great Vowel Shift (GVS)
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Diphthong
Diphthong
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Monophthong
Monophthong
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The vowel sound in words like 'beat' and 'sea'
The vowel sound in words like 'beat' and 'sea'
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The vowel sound in words like 'mice' and 'geese'
The vowel sound in words like 'mice' and 'geese'
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The vowel sound in words like 'broke' and 'boat'
The vowel sound in words like 'broke' and 'boat'
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The vowel sound in words like 'name' and 'make'
The vowel sound in words like 'name' and 'make'
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Word combination
Word combination
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Borrowings in English
Borrowings in English
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Word Creation in English
Word Creation in English
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A Table Alphabeticall
A Table Alphabeticall
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Motivation for Language Standardization
Motivation for Language Standardization
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Present Continuous Tense in ModE
Present Continuous Tense in ModE
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Increased Frequency of Present Continuous in ModE
Increased Frequency of Present Continuous in ModE
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be + preposition + '-ing' in ME
be + preposition + '-ing' in ME
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Be + a + -ing in Early ModE
Be + a + -ing in Early ModE
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Present Continuous: Ongoing Action
Present Continuous: Ongoing Action
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Present Continuous: Limited Duration
Present Continuous: Limited Duration
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Present Continuous: Future Events
Present Continuous: Future Events
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Present Continuous: Habitual Annoyance
Present Continuous: Habitual Annoyance
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Study Notes
Early Modern English (1500-1800)
- Modern English period encompassing 1500 to 1800
- 1476: Printing press arrives in England
- 1776: American colonies declare independence
Problems of 16th Century English
- Recognition: Latin (and less so Greek) held prominence in academia, medicine, and law. English needed recognition in these fields. Vulgar languages, like English, were considered less sophisticated.
- Orthography: No single, universally accepted spelling system. Pronunciation and spelling often did not match due to evolving usage. The Great Vowel Shift, while happening, is finalized in this period.
- Lexical enrichment: With Latin's decline, many Latin words entered English. Some words became established quickly, others fell out of use equally swiftly.
Factors influencing Language Change
- Printing press: Increased access to education and literacy. Books, especially in English, became more widely available.
- Religious reform: The Act of Supremacy saw Henry VIII and successors as the head of the Church of England. English replacing Latin as the language of the Church. The religious mission spread by the translation of the Bible into English.
- Colonial expansion: Contact with other cultures led to borrowings from other languages. A further growth in English vocabulary and regional dialects.
- Social mobility: Social classes became more fluid. People adopted the linguistic conventions of those they wished to be associated with.
- Cultural activity: Increased cultural output (e.g., theater, literature, the King James Bible). This provided further opportunities for language variation and spread, including through literacy, further promoting communication.
Changes in Thought
- Renaissance (14-16th c.): Strong sense of individualism and independence.
- Rationalism (17-18th c.): Strong sense of order; importance given to logic and regularity.
Dictionaries
- New words entered the language, and there was a need to document and categorize them better.
- The Elementarie (1582) (Mulcaster) had 8,000 words, but no definitions
- A Dictionary of the English Language (Johnson; 1755) surveyed 40,000 entries and fixed spelling.
- Dictionaries became important tools for standardization and establishing a standard language.
The Academy
- The English language is often debated and discussed for its decline in standard.
- The ideal of a standard English language is often based on the past, though this is not always realistic.
- There was a lack of a formal English Academy despite the wish and desire of some.
Grammars
- 1760 onwards, scholars tried to standardize grammar, with the aim to define appropriate linguistic behavior.
- Attempts made to set prescriptive rules (e.g., 17th and 18th-criteria were based on logic, etymology and classical languages) codifying the language further.
- This grammar had weaknesses such as focusing on the written word and ignoring or overlooking the spoken word.
- The rules were often prescriptive rather than descriptive.
Results of Grammarians' Work
- Provided a codified grammar (many rules still valid today)
- Settled disputes, eliminated some uncertainty
- No longer needed a formal Academy
Weak Points of Grammarians' Work
- Contributed to solidifying differences between written and spoken language
- Often disregarded real usage, failing to account for language’s fluid nature
- Rules sometimes redundant or illogical
- Too many rules: some contradictory or unnecessary
Language: A Bird's-eye View
- English remained similar to Present-day English (PDE) in the beginning
- Some variability in the 1500s to 1700s
- Significant developments occurred in the morphology, consonants, spelling,syntax and phonology of English during the EModE period. Significant changes happened during the Early/Late EModE (1650's onwards) towards more prescriptive grammar, for example
- Lexical changes.
Spelling and Phonology
- Spelling gradually standardized. This happened alongside the printing press.
- The Great Vowel Shift finalized during the EModE period.
- New sounds and phonemes are created and integrated into English language e.g. <J> and
- In the EModE period spellings were fairly fixed.
Consonants: New Phonemes
- New consonant phonemes emerged.
- Some consonant sounds, already existing in Middle English, were either pronounced differently or became silent in particular positions.
Vowels: Great Vowel Shift
- The Great Vowel Shift (GVS) completed.
- Vowels changed in terms of quality – they shifted up or diphthongized.
- Some vowels from Old English shifted their pronunciation and sometimes new vowels appear.
Verbs
- Significant grammatical changes happened during the ME period
- The loss of thou
- 3rd person singular present tense gained prominence
- Standardized forms, such as bare infinitive and present, emerged during the ModE period
Adjectives
- Adjectives lost most of their inflectional endings.
- The use of compound words, such as more, less, and most gained more standardization.
Articles
- No significant changes in syntax, although spelling changed from ⟨thorn⟩ to ⟨th⟩ in the definite article.
Syntax
- SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) became the unmarked word order.
- Alternative word orders (SOV, VSO) were still present, but declined.
- Grammatical rules became more explicit, though still somewhat varied.
- The use of auxiliary verbs, do/have/be, for questions and negation. This was a major shift between ME and ModE.
Verbal Periphrases
- Formalization of the present perfect tense and other verb tenses, further differentiating usage from ME.
- Use of both HAVE and BE as auxiliary verbs.
Negation
- Negation patterns became more fixed, with the prescriptive rule-adoption of using auxiliary verbs to form negatives.
Questions
- Subject-verb inversion or subject-auxiliary inversion to form questions.
- The use of "do"-support in questions became more standardized.
Course Recap
- EModE, important changes in inflectional endings were completed.
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Description
This quiz explores significant events that shaped the English language during the 16th century, including the impact of the Renaissance and the standardization of spelling. Delve into concepts like Early Modern English (EME) and linguistic purity while examining the social changes of the period. Test your understanding of the challenges faced by English during this transformative time.