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Lionel Mandrake

(4,076 posts)

25. I'm sure you're right,

Reply to Aristus (Reply #23)

Thu Feb 13, 2014, 10:53 PM

Feb 2014

but there's still an enigma.

We call Chaucer's language Middle English and Shakespeare's Early Modern English, because the changes over the last four centuries are minor compared to the changes over the preceding two centuries. But why?

Is it possible that Shakespeare, King James's translation team, and Gutenberg all had something to do with this phenomenon?

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Highlight:

Happy Hour with Will Shakespeare. Ask us anything. [View all] Aristus Feb 2014 OP

To be or not to be? MrMickeysMom Feb 2014 #1

Will says: "To be. Assuredly. Aristus Feb 2014 #3

Wow! MrMickeysMom Feb 2014 #4

Will says: "Why then, rejoice therefor! Aristus Feb 2014 #6

Will March enter as a lion or a lamb? In_The_Wind Feb 2014 #2

Will says: "We shall see, shan't we, love? Aristus Feb 2014 #5

Will's in his cups already? pinboy3niner Feb 2014 #7

"O! Thou could'st teach the stars to shine!" Aristus Feb 2014 #10

That he is ... In_The_Wind Feb 2014 #9

"Dearest love! Sweetest sunshine! Aristus Feb 2014 #20

Alas, my dear Aristus and my dear Will... CaliforniaPeggy Feb 2014 #8

" Pegeen, lass! Oceans of love, Angel mine! Aristus Feb 2014 #12

What does Will recommend drinking tonight? struggle4progress Feb 2014 #11

Dry sack and sugar, sweet lad! Aristus Feb 2014 #14

I heard that's what killed Yorick pinboy3niner Feb 2014 #16

"Moderation, lad. Moderation. Aristus Feb 2014 #18

It is not for me, a simple peasant, to ask... madinmaryland Feb 2014 #13

"If thou wilt deny us thy company at table, lad, Aristus Feb 2014 #15

Did the groundhog thaw out yet? Paulie Feb 2014 #17

Will just nudged me and whispered: Aristus Feb 2014 #19

What is thy crest? A cock's comb? rocktivity Feb 2014 #21

"Indeed! Aristus Feb 2014 #24

Hast thou an explanation? Lionel Mandrake Feb 2014 #22

Chaucer is classified as Middle English by linguists. Aristus Feb 2014 #23

I'm sure you're right, Lionel Mandrake Feb 2014 #25

It may have more to do with the move Henry VIII made Aristus Feb 2014 #26

The move from Latin to the vernacular, especially in print, must have played a role. Lionel Mandrake Feb 2014 #36

Is the groundhog going to see his shadow next year? nt Incitatus Feb 2014 #27

Not a clue. Aristus Feb 2014 #28

Happy Valentine's Day Aristus Crewleader Feb 2014 #29

And to you, Crewleader! Aristus Feb 2014 #30

But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? Rowdyboy Feb 2014 #31

Juliet. To which Romeo compares the dawn, and the rising sun. Aristus Feb 2014 #32

I memorized most of the scene for extra credit in high school....Used to quote it when I had Rowdyboy Feb 2014 #34

2 questions orleans Feb 2014 #33

1. Aristus Feb 2014 #35

maybe he wrote his epitaph around the same time as "shall i die?" then orleans Feb 2014 #37