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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 7 page paper traces the changes and influences on the English language from the late 1300’s to 1755 when Samuel Johnson printed the definitive dictionary. The paper induces the factors such as the influence of French, the regional dialects, the great vowel shift and the impact of the printing press as well as the work of Shakespeare. The bibliography cites 4 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TS14_TEenglan.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
language that has been constantly evolving. In looking at texts such as the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer the complexity of the language and the way it has developed. Chaucer stated
writing his Canterbury takes during the late 1380s. This was a time of change where Middle English was still used and the language could vary greatly between the regions.
The developments of the language during this Middle English period can be seen by comparing a well known text, that of the nativity in the Bible as told in Luke.
By looking at the translation made by Wycliffe at the same time as Chaucer was writing and the King James version of c.1604 there are some very pronounced differences, but
the language is still, in the main part, recognisable. Wycliffe translated the beginning as "And it was don in tho daies, a maundement wente out fro the emperour August,
thatal the world schulde be discryued. This firste discryuyng was maad of Cyryn, iustice of Sirie. And alle men wenten to make professioun, ech in to his owne cite" (Anonymous).
By 1603 this becomes "And it came to passe in those dayes, that there went out a decree from Cesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And
this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was gouernor of Syria) And all went to bee taxed, euery one into his owne citie". It is not only the spelling that
has changed, but the wording and also the use of phrasing and grammar that is different (Anonymous) The language had already been developing, and in the 1360s English became the
default language of the courts. However with many invaders over the years English by this stage was a mixture with many words taken from the different visitors to the land.
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