Shakespeare's English

Greetings,

This will be the sixth and final entry with regard to the history of Elizabethan English. As a final entry to this particular subject the post explores the language of Shakespeare. He is a prime example of the later part of Elizabethan English and arguably the best-known writer of the period. He was a master manipulator of the language and one of the most influential in the history of Elizabethan English and indeed our own modern language.

Introduction

            Shakespeare is arguably one of the most influential writers that the English language has ever had, and more so for the modern language. The fact that his works are still used as part of the curriculum for schools in the modern age attests to the importance of his works. In the history of Elizabethan English, Shakespeare is just as significant even though he comes as part of the later part of the language. Still he can be used as a prime example of the language no more so than due to the breadth and amount of his works.
            In the discussion of his place in history and more to the point his language’s place in history and Elizabethan English, four areas are most useful. First is a general overview of his language and how it compares to the modern language. This establishes where he fits in. Secondly is his ability to invent singular words and expressions, many of which are still present. Finally is his ability to manipulate the language and make it do what he wanted in order to achieve his objective. Shakespeare is used as an example of the language and also as a significant contributor to the language. He fills in a significant element of the language in his achievements and also as a readily-accessible example of Elizabethan English.

Shakespeare’s Language

            In discussions of the English language and especially of those about Early Modern English, Shakespeare is a name that comes up and recurs throughout the discussions, “Shakespeare remains an icon for English-speaking peoples throughout the world,” (McCrum, 2010:79). This is due to his stature as a well-known author but also due to the skill in which he used the language in order to illustrate not only things but people and feelings.

The amount of works which have been discovered and recovered enable the investigation of this author to be more complete than with most other authors of the period. Indeed, he fills the role perfectly as an example of the language, “we could perhaps select William Shakespeare (1564-1616) as a typical representative of the language of the period.” (Nevalainen, 2006:3).

           In the discussion of Shakespeare’s English it must be noted that it is not the same as our language, indeed the average modern reader finds some difficulty in understanding what he has to say, “Shakespeare’s spelling and grammar are not those of Present-day English” (Nevalainen, 2006:4). There are differences in the form and rules of the language and these provide some interesting difficulties for the researcher. They are nowhere near insurmountable, but they do make the investigation of the language more interesting. However, these differences cannot be simply classified and pushed to one side “we cannot distinguish Shakespeare’s English from our own on the basis of these simple criteria of archaism.” (Nevalainen, 2006:3), indeed some of the richness of his language is due to these and these assist us in appreciating the language. Thus his language is different in some ways but also the same in others. If the language was so different from our modern language it would be hard to understand how it impacted the modern language, but due to Shakespeare’s own ability it did, and still does.

Coinages

“few scholars would doubt that Shakespeare indeed stands out as an exceptionally innovative writer. Some estimate that out of the 17,000-18,000 lexeme types attested in the Shakespeare corpus, one in ten was coined by him” (Nevalainen, 2006:47)

            The word “invented” is often used to describe these words which are present in Shakespeare’s works however there is the more likely chance that the words were in use and it was Shakespeare who recorded them. Even so, his contribution even of this amount is significant, it is doubtful that any other author could claim such an achievement.

Shakespeare’s brilliance does not stop at singular words. The formation of words into expressions is the construction of the language, putting words together to create meaning beyond the single words. In this Shakespeare’s contribution is also significant, many expressions from Shakespeare have travelled into the modern language and remained, influence found everywhere in modern language (Gooden, 2009:83). In most cases people do not even realise that they are using expressions from Shakespeare so present in the language that they are. These expressions have become commonplace. This presents some of Shakespeare’s ability to manipulate the language.

Manipulation

            The ability to find and invent words is one thing the ability to use them effectively is another one. This requires the ability of the author to manipulate the language in order that the words fit properly in the language in order that the expression is correct. The true master of manipulation of the language can even use words which should not fit and make them fit and be appropriate to what is wanted at the time. “Like the English language in which he revelled, Shakespeare was a literary magpie,” (McCrum, 2010:76). Shakespeare would pick up words and use them in a place and time as he saw fit, a mastery of the language.
            Shakespeare’s plays cover a wide range of periods, classes and situations. In order to place the characters within the plays in the correct place this required him to illustrate the situations with words, and primarily with the speech of the characters. “Shakespeare used a range of styles of speech in his plays to suit characters across the social spectrum,” (Gooden, 2009:81). This meant that he used the words spoken by the characters to describe their social positions. The language was used to illustrate the characters in a verbal rather than a visual way, thus giving the people in the plays more character. The language used by Shakespeare suited to the situations and characters involved, though interestingly with an absence of middle-class (Gooden, 2009:81).
            Even in the modern world there are times when certain language is suitable and certain language is not. This requires knowledge of the language in order to manipulate it to the situation which was required. Where the author is using the language to describe and illustrate this needs to be done with care. Shakespeare manipulated the language to what was required at the time (Gooden, 2009:84). One place where this can be seen is in humour. To the average modern audience there is not much humour to be found it Shakespeare, but this is because it was hidden within the language used (Gooden, 2009:81). This enabled the humour to be hidden where required and also to suit the audience.
            When discussing characters and situations it is primarily plays which are described, however it was not only in his plays which demonstrate Shakespeare’s ability to manipulate the language. Shakespeare’s poetry is flexible using all the resources available to him from the full spectrum of the language (Gooden, 2009:82). This is the reason why Shakespeare’s poetry, whether in a sonnet or within a play is perfectly suited to the expression he is looking for. He manipulated the language and used words and expressions together to describe and illustrate. This ability to manipulate the language is what sets Shakespeare as significant and apart from others.

Conclusion

            Shakespeare’s English is not our English that is for certain, but it cannot be pushed aside merely because it is old. It demonstrates the ability to construct and manipulate language in a way that the author can express himself freely. As far as the history of Elizabethan English is concerned, Shakespeare cannot be ignored even more so. He falls into a period at the end of the Elizabethan period and thus could be seen as the pinnacle of the language from that period. In this way he is a most useful tool to see where the language of the period was heading.
            What is most interesting about Shakespeare is that he simultaneously is and is not useful for a study of the language in that there are rules of the language that he obviously followed, but there are also rules he did not. So establishing the norms of the language through the use of Shakespeare could be very problematic due to this free manipulation of the language. However, due to the fact that he was able to follow or not follow rules of the language, present or not, means he is the perfect description of a language in flux, malleable and flexible, as was the nature of Elizabethan English during its time period.  

Bibliography

Crystal, D. (2008) ‘Think on my Words’: Exploring Shakespeare’s Language, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

Crystal, D. (2010) Evolving English: One Language, Many Voices, The British Library, London, UK

Gooden, P. (2009) The Story of English: How the English Language Conquered the World, Quercus Publishing Plc, London, UK

McCrum, R. (2010) Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language, Penguin Group (Australia), Camberwell, Australia

Nevalainen, T. (2006) An Introduction to Early Modern English, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, Scotland