Early Modern English: Shakespearean Era to the King James Bible (1500–1700 AD)

Early Modern English is the linguistic epoch that spans roughly from the late 15th century to the late 17th century. It represents a significant transitional phase in the evolution of the English language, bridging the gap between the Middle English period and the modern form of the language that we use today.

During the Early Modern English period, several key developments profoundly influenced the language:

1. Rise of Standardization: One of the most significant developments during this period was the standardization of English spelling and grammar. This was largely due to the introduction of the printing press in England by William Caxton in 1476. The printing press facilitated the mass production of texts, leading to a more consistent spelling and grammar across printed materials.
2. Influence of Shakespeare: William Shakespeare, often regarded as the greatest playwright in the English language, was prolific during the Early Modern English period. His works, including plays like “Hamlet,” “Macbeth,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” not only showcased the richness and versatility of the English language but also contributed numerous new words and phrases to the lexicon. Shakespeare’s plays played a crucial role in popularizing English vocabulary and expressions.
3. Publication of the King James Bible: The translation of the Bible into English, culminating in the King James Version (KJV) in 1611, had a profound impact on the English language. The KJV not only served as a religious and literary masterpiece but also played a significant role in standardizing English language usage. Many phrases and idioms from the King James Bible have become deeply ingrained in the English-speaking world.
4. Integration of Loanwords: The Early Modern English period saw increased contact with other cultures through exploration, trade, and colonial expansion. This led to the integration of words from languages such as Latin, Greek, French, Spanish, and Dutch into the English vocabulary. As a result, English became enriched with a broader range of vocabulary, reflecting the cultural exchanges of the time.
5. Evolution of Grammar: While Early Modern English retained many grammatical features inherited from Middle English, there were also significant changes in grammar during this period. For instance, the simplification of verb conjugations and the emergence of more standardized word order contributed to the evolution of English grammar towards its modern form.

Overall, the Early Modern English period was characterized by a dynamic linguistic landscape, marked by the flourishing of literature, the standardization of language, and increased cultural exchange, laying the groundwork for the emergence of modern English.

Here’s an excerpt from William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” written in Early Modern English:

“To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the minde to suffer
The slings and arrowes of outragious fortune,
Or to take Armes against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them: to dye, to sleepe
No more; and by a sleepe, to say we end
The heart-ake, and the thousand naturall shocks
That flesh is heyre too? ’Tis a consummation
Deuoutly to be wisht. To dye to sleepe, To sleepe,
perchance to dreame; I, there’s the rub,
For in that sleepe of death, what dreames may come,
When we haue shuffled off this mortall coile,
Must giue vs pause. There’s the respect,
That makes Calamity of so long life:
For who would beare the whips and scornes of time,
The oppressors wrong, the poore mans Contumely,
The pangs of dispriz’d Loue, the Lawes delay,
The insolence of Office, and the spurnes
That patient merit of the vnworthy takes,
When he himselfe might his Quietus make
With a bare bodkin? Who would these Fardles beare
To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life,
But that the dread of something after death,
The vndiscouered Countrey, from whose Borne
No Traueller returnes, Puzels the will,
And makes vs rather beare those illes we haue,
Then flye to others that we know not of.
Thus Conscience does make Cowards of vs all,
And thus the natiue hew of Resolution
Is sicklied o’re, with the pale cast of Thought,
And enterprizes of great pith and moment,
With this regard their Currants turne away,
And loose the name of Action. Soft you now,
The faire Ophelia? Nimph, in thy Orizons
Be all my sinnes remembred.”

You can see the differences in spelling, punctuation, and some of the vocabulary used.

Originally published at http://the-english-nook.com on April 8, 2024.