The Birth of Modern The Birth of Modern EnglishEnglish

Renaissance LanguageRenaissance Language

Modern English PeriodModern English Period

1475: William Caxton printed the first book in 1475: William Caxton printed the first book in English to help unify and spread English, English to help unify and spread English, making opportunities to read and write making opportunities to read and write readily available to all English speakers.readily available to all English speakers.

1485: Henry VII, first Tudor king of 1485: Henry VII, first Tudor king of England, came to the throne and began England, came to the throne and began spread of our language all over the world.spread of our language all over the world.

Early Modern EnglishEarly Modern English

Called “Early Modern”1485-mid 1700s because Called “Early Modern”1485-mid 1700s because the language still resembled Middle Ages English the language still resembled Middle Ages English in some ways.in some ways.

Still had the plural ending –s and the possessive Still had the plural ending –s and the possessive ending –’s for nouns; the comparative and ending –’s for nouns; the comparative and superlative endings –er and –est for adjectives; superlative endings –er and –est for adjectives; the verb endings –ed, past participle –ed or –en; the verb endings –ed, past participle –ed or –en; present participle –ing, and third person singular of present participle –ing, and third person singular of present tense –s.present tense –s.

Early Modern English also had endings we Early Modern English also had endings we no longer use: -eth and –est, as in “he no longer use: -eth and –est, as in “he thinketh and “thou thinkest.”thinketh and “thou thinkest.”

Great Vowel ShiftGreat Vowel Shift

Greatest change from Middle to Early Modern Greatest change from Middle to Early Modern English was pronunciation of “long” or tense English was pronunciation of “long” or tense vowels:vowels:

Middle EnglishMiddle Englishbitebite beet beet feet fatefeet fatecanecane kahn kahn or or conconmousemouse moosemoosebootboot boatboatloadload laudlaud

Lagging SpellingLagging Spelling

The tendency was and still is to keep The tendency was and still is to keep English spelling unchanged regardless of English spelling unchanged regardless of pronunciation, so spelling becomes further pronunciation, so spelling becomes further and further out of line.and further out of line.

Though proposals have been made for Though proposals have been made for change, serious spelling reform has had change, serious spelling reform has had little success then or now.little success then or now.

Borrowed WordsBorrowed Words

During Elizabeth’s reign, British exploration During Elizabeth’s reign, British exploration and establishment of colonies led to the and establishment of colonies led to the language expanding with foreign words, language expanding with foreign words, particularly from France, Italy, Spain, particularly from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Central America, the Caribbean, Portugal, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Netherlands.and the Netherlands.

Because the literature, art, philosophy, Because the literature, art, philosophy, history, and culture of Rome and Greece history, and culture of Rome and Greece were taken as ideals during the were taken as ideals during the Renaissance, modern European languages Renaissance, modern European languages also borrowed more words from Latin and also borrowed more words from Latin and Greek.Greek.

The Rise of Standard EnglishThe Rise of Standard English

The Court of the Chancery law clerks, who The Court of the Chancery law clerks, who recorded court proceedings and maintained recorded court proceedings and maintained legal archives, set a pattern of language legal archives, set a pattern of language usages others followed. Early Modern usages others followed. Early Modern English is sometimes called Chancery English is sometimes called Chancery Standard because of this.Standard because of this.

The printing press led to more literacy and The printing press led to more literacy and also spread the new standard written also spread the new standard written English.English.

Most Popular ReadingMost Popular Reading

Book of Common PrayerBook of Common Prayer King James BibleKing James Bible Phrases and rhythms of both books were Phrases and rhythms of both books were

powerful influences in shaping the ideal of powerful influences in shaping the ideal of language to which English speakers looked language to which English speakers looked during the Renaissance and for centuries to during the Renaissance and for centuries to follow.follow.