LECTURE 9LECTURE 9

Early Modern Early Modern English:English:

language (II)language (II)Lei ZHU

Shanghai International Studies University

ISTORY OF ENGLISHISTORY OF ENGLISH

5 Grammar

5 Grammar

5 Grammar

The Cambridge History of the English Language, Vol III, p. 151.

5 Grammar

cat : cat’s = it : ?

it’s

its

Shakespeare:

But value dwells not in particular will:It holds his estimate and dignity.— Troilus and Cressida, Act II, Scene II

It lifted up it head— Hamlet, Act I, Scene II

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,

That it had it head bit off by it young.— King Lear, Act I, Scene IV

5 Grammar

5 Grammar

5 Grammar

5 Grammar

5 Grammar

6 Vocabulary

Direct borrowing from Latin and Greek

6 Vocabulary

“Inkhorn terms”

7 Reading practice (VI)

• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

7 Reading practice (VI)

• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles:

The aim of this Dictionary is to present in alphabetical series the words that have formed the English vocabulary from the time of the earliest records down to the present day, with all the relevant facts concerning their form, sense-history, pronunciation, and etymology.

Je le ai vu. Je la ai vue.

Je l’ai vu.

I him have seen

Je l’ai vue.

I her have seen