talkin' all medieval-like

[herald]

Not that far ahead of his time in creating words. He had an incredibly large vocabulary, but rarely created his own words. Spenser, for example, who is his contemporary, does a lot more word-smithing. Almost all of the language in Shakespeare's works is what was in existence at the time. The regional dialects post-1066 had become a lot more standardized by Shakespeare's time, i.e. the Renaissance. He's about a century late to be called a medieval writer (later, if you consider the continent and not just England), but somehow his language is what people commonly think of as medieval English.

I strongly disagree. Shakespeare's use of words and verse are not that common in that day in age, even if one of his contemporaries did more. And while you can say that regional dialects had become more standard hundreds of years later, I was more or less speaking of the time periods before. However I defy you to say that some one who speaks with a cornish accent, sounds and speaks just like someone who is from some place like Dorset. <Minor Hijack> Regional dialects are very tricky things and sometimes envirionmental situations also play into accents as well as isolation. A few years ago English scientists were stating that the "Cockney" accent was dying out because the coal burning plants were being shut down and residents were not getting nasal infections at the same rate they once were because of it. Odd, but the sinus cavity plays with tonality so much that this sort of thing happens. </Minor Hijack>

I with the very broad range that is the Medieval period, most people I know who study this time in history would reject Shakespeare's writing as being of that style. More common would be Geoffrey Chaucer. (just sticking with the English).

 

[Rashak Mani]

They are not expressions exactly... but I think that its valid to point out the origins of the names of the weekdays:

Sunday & Monday = Sun and Moon day. Easy.

The rest are based on gods... Viking Gods:

Tuesday = Tyr's day (Norse god of War and Commerce)
Wednesday = Wotan's day (Wotan is old name for Odin)
Thursday = Thor's day (you know... thunder guy
Friday = Frida's or Fri's day (brother or sister of Thor)

Saturday I think is Saturn... how a roman got in the middle I don't know.

So it seems much more than egg and sky were added to the english language...

 

[Desdichado]

Actually, they weren't Viking gods that gave us the English names of the days of the week, they were Anglo-Saxon gods. Although the difference is purely academic, since both are "descendents" if you will of the same proto-Germanic mythology.

 

[herald]

Actually, they weren't Viking gods that gave us the English names of the days of the week, they were Anglo-Saxon gods. Although the difference is purely academic, since both are "descendents" if you will of the same proto-Germanic mythology.

Anglo, maybe, but not Anglo-Saxon. Those words would have been in use far before the arrival of the Saxons. By the time the Normans had come to England with William the Conquerer in 1066, these people where mostly Christians.

Saturday is derived from the Romans would have come into use because the Romans spread across Europe and leaving thier footprint every where they went.

 

[Enkhidu]

Anglo, maybe, but not Anglo-Saxon. Those words would have been in use far before the arrival of the Saxons...

Methinks you're under the mistaken assumption that the Saxons came over later than they did. The Angels, Saxons, and Jutes all came over within about 100 years of each other, right about 300 to 400 AD. Amrodious Aurelianus - the Romano-Briton king most likely the basis for King Arthur - fought against the Saxons at the Battle of Badon Hill circa 500 AD (give or take a decade or two).

 

[herald]

Methinks you're under the mistaken assumption that the Saxons came over later than they did. The Angels, Saxons, and Jutes all came over within about 100 years of each other, right about 300 to 400 AD. Amrodious Aurelianus - the Romano-Briton king most likely the basis for King Arthur - fought against the Saxons at the Battle of Badon Hill circa 500 AD (give or take a decade or two).

Even still, we don't generally call refer to the people known as Anglo-Saxons until the Normans took the whole of Britton. That early in history England is fragmented.

 

[Enkhidu]

Even still, we don't generally call refer to the people known as Anglo-Saxons until the Normans took the whole of Britton. That early in history England is fragmented.

Actually, in all of my experience, the term Anglo-Saxon has been used for the non-Celtic cultures in Britain from about 500 to 1000 AD. Also, the Venerable Bede did a fairly good job of documenting the early part of this period.

 

[herald]

Actually, in all of my experience, the term Anglo-Saxon has been used for the non-Celtic cultures in Britain from about 500 to 1000 AD. Also, the Venerable Bede did a fairly good job of documenting the early part of this period.

A quick check to my records indicate that you are indeed correct. I concede the point.

 

[alsih2o]

A quick check to my records indicate that you are indeed correct. I concede the point.

can you say this on messageboards?

 

[mac1504]

The English Language

This has always been my favorite quote:

"The problem with defending the purity of the English language is that English is about as pure as a cribhouse whore. We don't just borrow words; on occasion, English has pursued other languages down alleyways to beat them unconscious and rifle their pockets for new vocabulary." -James Nicoll