Early Modern English

Definition of Early Modern English

Early Modern English time period

The Early Modern English period marks a significant linguistic transition between Middle English and Modern English. The precise dating of this period varies among scholars, but it typically begins around the end of the 15th century with the introduction of the printing press by William Caxton and extends to the late 17th century. It is worth noting that the earlier part of this period witnessed the Great Vowel Shift, which had a considerable impact on the pronunciation of English vowels.

Characteristics of Early Modern English

Early Modern English exhibits several key features that distinguish it from its predecessors and successors.

• Orthography: The introduction of the printing press led to a gradual standardization of English spelling, although regional variations and inconsistencies persisted.
• Vocabulary: The period witnessed a significant expansion of the English lexicon due to the influence of Latin, Greek, and other European languages. This growth was facilitated by increased literacy, knowledge and communication exchanges.
• Grammar: EME exhibited a more simplified grammatical structure compared to Middle English, due to the gradual loss of inflections and the rise of analytic forms.
• Pronunciation: The Great Vowel Shift greatly affected the phonology of the language, causing long vowels to shift upwards while short vowels generally remained unchanged.

Early modern English words

Throughout the Early Modern English period, there was an immense expansion of the English vocabulary, with a significant number of new words and phrases being introduced. Some sources of these words included:

• Borrowing from Latin and Greek: Many new scientific, philosophical, and artistic terms were derived from Latin and Greek, such as 'atmosphere', 'hypothesis', and 'perspective'.
• Borrowing from other European languages: English borrowed numerous words from languages like French, Italian, and Spanish, including 'embassy', 'silhouette', and 'guitar'.
• Coinage and compounding: EME also saw the creation of new words by combining existing ones or coining entirely new terms, such as 'lighthouse', 'birdwatch', and 'overwhelm'.

As a result, many Early Modern English words have survived to the present day and continue to enrich the vocabulary of Modern English.

Early Modern English Pronouns and Grammar

In Early Modern English, both pronouns and grammar evolved significantly compared to previous stages of the language. These changes have had a lasting impact on the way English is spoken and written today.

Early modern English pronouns

Pronouns in Early Modern English underwent several changes with respect to their usage, forms, and distinctions. During this period, some old forms faded away, while new ones emerged, eventually leading to the pronoun system we have today.

Differences between Early Modern and Modern English pronouns

There are several key differences between Early Modern English and Modern English pronouns, which include:

• Usage of 'thou', 'thee', 'thy', and 'thine': In Early Modern English, these forms were used as the second person singular pronouns, corresponding to the modern 'you'. However, 'you' was also used in Early Modern English, typically when addressing someone with respect or in a formal setting. Over time, 'thou' and its related forms fell out of use, and 'you' became the standard form for both singular and plural contexts.
• Gender-neutral pronouns: Early Modern English lacked a gender-neutral pronoun for singular antecedents. This led to the use of 'he' and 'his' as generic pronouns, indicating either gender. Eventually, the singular 'they' emerged as a gender-neutral alternative and is widely accepted and used in Modern English.
• Reflexive pronouns: In Early Modern English, reflexive pronouns were often formed by adding '-self' to the possessive form of the pronoun, such as 'myself', 'himself', 'herself', and 'itself'. However, the plural forms were given by using 'our-', 'your-', and 'them-' before '-selves', such as 'ourselves', 'yourselves', and 'themselves'. This differs from Middle English, where reflexive pronouns were often formed by adding '-selfe' to the pronoun itself, like 'himselfe'.

Early modern English grammar

Early Modern English grammar was characterized by several changes that contributed to the simplification and standardization of the language. Many alterations in syntax, inflections, and verb conjugations occurred during this time.

Key grammatical features and changes

Some of the most important grammatical features and changes in Early Modern English include:

• Simplification of plurals: The formation of plurals became more regular, as the Old English and Middle English custom of using unique plural forms for different noun classes was largely abandoned. Instead, the majority of plurals were formed by simply adding an '-s' or '-es' suffix, a rule still followed in Modern English.
• Verb conjugation: Early Modern English saw the regularization of verb conjugations. For instance, the conjugation of the verb 'to have' transitioned from 'hath' (third person singular) to 'has'. Another example is the transition of '-eth' endings to '-s' endings in the third person singular of most verbs, such as 'doeth' becoming 'does'.
• Word order: The period witnessed a shift towards a more fixed word order. While Middle English allowed greater flexibility in terms of sentence construction, Early Modern English moved towards the subject-verb-object (SVO) structure, which is predominant in Modern English.
• Prepositions and conjunctions: New prepositions and conjunctions entered the language during the Early Modern English period, many of them borrowed from Latin and other European languages. This led to a greater variety in ways to express relationships between words and ideas, and contributed to the richness of the language.

Overall, the Early Modern English period was a time of significant linguistic change, paving the way for the development of the English language into its modern form.

Early Modern English Examples and Comparisons

There are a variety of key differences between Early Modern English and Modern English, particularly in vocabulary and usage. Understanding these variations can provide insights into the historical context and gradual changes that have shaped the English language over time.

Differences between the two stages of English include:

• Archaic words and expressions: Early Modern English is characterized by the use of archaic words and expressions that are no longer in common use or have evolved in meaning. For example, words like 'wherefore', 'betwixt', and 'perchance' were common in Early Modern English, but they are rarely used in Modern English.
• Spelling variations: As the standardization of spelling was still evolving during the Early Modern English period, many words were spelled differently than they are today. For instance, 'musick' instead of 'music', 'spelle' instead of 'spell', or 'shewe' instead of 'show'.
• Capitalization and punctuation: Capitalization rules were less consistent in Early Modern English, with proper nouns, common nouns and even verbs often being capitalized. Moreover, punctuation such as commas and colons was used more liberally and could be found within or at the end of a sentence, rather than strictly adhering to modern punctuation rules.
• Elision and contraction: Contractions like 'tis' (it is), 'o'er' (over), or 'e'en' (even) were frequent in Early Modern English. While some contractions, such as "don't" or "can't", are still common in Modern English, many Early Modern English contractions have fallen out of use.

Famous early modern English examples

During the Early Modern English period, many significant literary works and historical documents were produced that not only reflected the linguistic features of the time, but also had a lasting impact on the development of the English language and its literature. Some noteworthy examples include:

• William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets: Shakespeare is undoubtedly one of the greatest playwrights and poets in the history of the English language. His works are replete with examples of Early Modern English in both its refined and colloquial forms, and he is credited with coining or popularizing numerous words and phrases that are still in use today.
• The King James Bible: First published in 1611, the King James Bible is a key example of Early Modern English prose. The translation aimed to be linguistically accessible to the general public while maintaining a sense of poetic beauty and rhythm, and its influence on later English literature cannot be overstated.
• Christopher Marlowe's plays: As a contemporary of Shakespeare, Marlowe's plays, such as 'Doctor Faustus' and 'Tamburlaine', are valuable examples of Early Modern English drama and poetry, demonstrating complex language, elaborate vocabulary, and innovative wordplay.
• The works of Edmund Spenser: Spenser's most famous work, 'The Faerie Queene', is an epic poem written in an archaic version of Early Modern English, employing an intricate rhyme scheme and deliberately evoking the medieval past to explore themes of national identity, mythology, chivalry, and morality.

These famous works and their authors not only offer insights into the grammar, vocabulary, and literary conventions of Early Modern English, but they also serve as a testament to the richness and creativity of the period, paving the way for the continued development of the English language and its literature.