Between 1400 and 1700, English went through a major vowel shift that changed the way words were pronounced. The pronunciation of Middle English long vowels changed into how we pronounce them today/has affected English worldwide, and well as consotant changes (silent letters come from this, knife used have the k pronounced, and this can actually still be heard in German as well. Kneipe (German for pub/bar), for eg, is pronounced with the k).
Example, in Middle English the word “house” was pronounced hu:s “hoos”. With the Great Vowel Shift it changed to haʊs “howse”.
My favourite pic displaying the evolution. Middle English is still almost parsable, but old english is basically old German haha
Also the change of implication. In middle English, God sets one down in the pasture, King James says God makes one lie in pastures, but Modern has God allows one to lay in the pasture.
And the change of feohland to pasture. I love this stuff so fucking much.
Yes. The stuff of dinner table conversation in the family. My mum did her masters degree on Old English and Old Norse. Dad spoke fluent cockney, english and lowland scots depending on context. Tell me about it.
That’s the joy of language and language evolution imo. Anyone ever heard of the great vowel shift haha
Keep talking. I’m learning.
Between 1400 and 1700, English went through a major vowel shift that changed the way words were pronounced. The pronunciation of Middle English long vowels changed into how we pronounce them today/has affected English worldwide, and well as consotant changes (silent letters come from this, knife used have the k pronounced, and this can actually still be heard in German as well. Kneipe (German for pub/bar), for eg, is pronounced with the k).
Example, in Middle English the word “house” was pronounced hu:s “hoos”. With the Great Vowel Shift it changed to haʊs “howse”.
I love Middle English. It can look like gibberish at first, but pretend to be drunk & Scottish 98% of it works. The other words are probably Danish.
My favourite pic displaying the evolution. Middle English is still almost parsable, but old english is basically old German haha
Also the change of implication. In middle English, God sets one down in the pasture, King James says God makes one lie in pastures, but Modern has God allows one to lay in the pasture.
And the change of feohland to pasture. I love this stuff so fucking much.
I love side by side versions like those! (I did send you that book link?) it makes the changes and similarities so obvious 😺 language is fun.
That’s a pretty American argument…
Bruh 😂😂😂💀
Yes. The stuff of dinner table conversation in the family. My mum did her masters degree on Old English and Old Norse. Dad spoke fluent cockney, english and lowland scots depending on context. Tell me about it.
Naw. Wish I could invite your Dad to dinner.
More than 20 years too late for that as he passed in 2003. Born in 1911. Still miss him.