Characteristics of Early Modern English
Defining Early Modern English presents scholars with difficulty, as the standardization of the language was not a linear process. Neither can we officially declare that the English language is concrete, as language does not have the property of immutability. There were various regional dialects of English between Scotland and England during the Middle English Period. Unfortunately, many of these dialects go unrecorded; however, their complexities can be inferred from regional dialect studies performed in the 18th century onward. Within England herself, the Northern and Western regions were known for their distinct dialects as different than standard English. The British colonists faced challenges of maintaining and spreading their forms of English as they traversed throughout Europe, the Americas, and Africa.However, there are some defining characteristics of Early Modern English that we can observe. These linguistic changes deal with the syntax, phonics, spellings, and vocabulary.
Pronunciation of the English language was marked with variation in the English regions. For instance,
“Pronouncing according as one would say at London I would eat more cheese if I had it, the Northern man saith Ay suld eat mare cheese gin ay hadet, and the Westerne man saith Chud eat more cheese an chad it. Richard Verstegan, A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence” (1605).
The Great Vowel Shift (1400-1600) changed the pronunciation of all the vowels. The tongue was placed higher in the mouth, and all the verbs moved up. Vowels that were already high ([i] and [u]) added the dipthongs [aj] and [aw] to the vowels of English.Several consonants were no longer pronounced, but the spelling system was in place before the consonant loss, so they are still written in English today. The consonants lost include:
· Voiceless velar fricative lost in night; pronounced as f in laugh
· [b] in final -mb cluster (dumb, comb)
· [l] between a or o and consonant (half, walk, talk, folk)
· [r] sometimes before s (Worcestershire)
· initial clusters beginning with k and g (knee, knight, gnat)
· [g] in -ing endings (more commonly pronounced [ɪn])
Finally, assibilation occurred when the alveolars [s], [d], [t], and [z] preceded the palatal glide [j], producing the palatal consonants: [š], [ǰ], [č], [ž].
Adjectives lost all endings except for in the comparative and superlative forms. The neuter pronoun it was first used as well as who as a relative pronoun. The class distinctions between formal and informal you were decreasing, so that today there is no difference between them. More strong verbs became weak and the third person singular form became -(e)s instead of -(e)th. There was a more limited use of the progressive and auxiliary verbs than there is now, however. Negatives followed the verb and multiple negatives were still used.
There was also a shift in the vocabulary during this time period. Many words were included from Latin. There were mixed attitudes regarding the great changes in the English language. Some writers seized upon the opportunity to coin new words or phrases. For instance, contemporary playwright, dramatist, and poet at the time William Shakespeare is well known as one of the greatest contributors for compounding new words and the standardization of the English language. See below for words either modified or added into the English language during this time:
• An'- obsolete word for if
• Cant- low, meaningless language; using language meaninglessly
• Chirurgeon- spelling of surgeon
• Desert- A deserted or uninhabited place (can have lush vegetation unlike today's definition of desert)
• Draught- draft- often used for a drink
• Gaol- Jail
• Gust- taste (literally or metaphorically)
• Patriot- Member of the wig party who opposed Robert Walpole
• Poesy- Poetry
• Rape- carry off/kidnap (not necessarily for sex)
• Sensible- Having sympathy; feeling
• Transportation- forced exile for committing a crime
These words were added into the English language in the 1700s:
1700: Alluded (adj) is first recorded in English
1710: Calculating (n) is first recorded in English
1725: Evasive (adj) is first recorded in English
1740: Partition (v) is first recorded in English
1771: Taciturn (adj) is first recorded in English
1784: Parachute (n) is first recorded in English
Pronunciation of the English language was marked with variation in the English regions. For instance,
“Pronouncing according as one would say at London I would eat more cheese if I had it, the Northern man saith Ay suld eat mare cheese gin ay hadet, and the Westerne man saith Chud eat more cheese an chad it. Richard Verstegan, A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence” (1605).
The Great Vowel Shift (1400-1600) changed the pronunciation of all the vowels. The tongue was placed higher in the mouth, and all the verbs moved up. Vowels that were already high ([i] and [u]) added the dipthongs [aj] and [aw] to the vowels of English.Several consonants were no longer pronounced, but the spelling system was in place before the consonant loss, so they are still written in English today. The consonants lost include:
· Voiceless velar fricative lost in night; pronounced as f in laugh
· [b] in final -mb cluster (dumb, comb)
· [l] between a or o and consonant (half, walk, talk, folk)
· [r] sometimes before s (Worcestershire)
· initial clusters beginning with k and g (knee, knight, gnat)
· [g] in -ing endings (more commonly pronounced [ɪn])
Finally, assibilation occurred when the alveolars [s], [d], [t], and [z] preceded the palatal glide [j], producing the palatal consonants: [š], [ǰ], [č], [ž].
Adjectives lost all endings except for in the comparative and superlative forms. The neuter pronoun it was first used as well as who as a relative pronoun. The class distinctions between formal and informal you were decreasing, so that today there is no difference between them. More strong verbs became weak and the third person singular form became -(e)s instead of -(e)th. There was a more limited use of the progressive and auxiliary verbs than there is now, however. Negatives followed the verb and multiple negatives were still used.
There was also a shift in the vocabulary during this time period. Many words were included from Latin. There were mixed attitudes regarding the great changes in the English language. Some writers seized upon the opportunity to coin new words or phrases. For instance, contemporary playwright, dramatist, and poet at the time William Shakespeare is well known as one of the greatest contributors for compounding new words and the standardization of the English language. See below for words either modified or added into the English language during this time:
• An'- obsolete word for if
• Cant- low, meaningless language; using language meaninglessly
• Chirurgeon- spelling of surgeon
• Desert- A deserted or uninhabited place (can have lush vegetation unlike today's definition of desert)
• Draught- draft- often used for a drink
• Gaol- Jail
• Gust- taste (literally or metaphorically)
• Patriot- Member of the wig party who opposed Robert Walpole
• Poesy- Poetry
• Rape- carry off/kidnap (not necessarily for sex)
• Sensible- Having sympathy; feeling
• Transportation- forced exile for committing a crime
These words were added into the English language in the 1700s:
1700: Alluded (adj) is first recorded in English
1710: Calculating (n) is first recorded in English
1725: Evasive (adj) is first recorded in English
1740: Partition (v) is first recorded in English
1771: Taciturn (adj) is first recorded in English
1784: Parachute (n) is first recorded in English