Why is Shakespeare's English so different?

Answer 1

English has evolved from Old English to Middle English to New English (modern English). During Shakespeare's time, Middle English was proper English (New English was just beginning to develop). Middle English is the name given by historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century.

English is an Anglo-Frisian language brought to Britain in the 5th century AD by Germanic settlers from various parts of Germany and Denmark. The original Old English language was subsequently influenced by two successive waves of invasion.

The first was by speakers of languages in the Scandinavian branch of the Germanic family, who colonised parts of Britain in the eighth and ninth centuries. The second wave was of the Normans in the eleventh century, who spoke Norman (an oïl language closely related to French). The Norman influence strongly affected the evolution of the language over the following centuries, resulting in what is now referred to as Middle English.

During the 15th century, Middle English was transformed by the Great Vowel Shift, the spread of a standardised London-based dialect in government and administration, and the standardising effect of printing. Thus developed New English (modern English).

Answer 2

English changes a little bit every day. A person from 20 years ago who suddenly found himself in todays world would have a difficult time knowing what people are talking about. It would take a while for him to adjust. The Internet itself has changed the English language. Also in Shakespeare's day English was only spoken in England. Today all these other countries that speak English have added new meanings to the words and their own expressions to English. Also spelling was not standardized until much later. Sometimes the same writer would spell the same word differently.

Answer 3

Language is constantly evolving. Although it seems stable in the course of a human lifetime, there are new words and changes in grammar happening constantly. Just think, Shakespeare the greatest writer in the English language did not know the word for Pizza. But then again, there were no pizzerias. We live different lives today and language reflects our world.

Answer 4

Its Olde English

Answer 5

It was a different time in history. English is a very young language comparitively speaking, and it was still developing when Shakespeare was writing. Dictionaries and definite rules of grammar & spelling in English are less than 200 years old. It is still developing because of its nature as a hybrid of many other, older languages.

Answer 6

In Shakespeare's time, proper (formal) English sounded nothing like it does today. Even English from 150 years ago can be difficult to read.

Shakespeare actually wrote in a style that was formal and proper (for the nobles who filled the seats at his plays) as well as "improper" and witty, which was understood and entertaining to the poorer members of the audience who had access to the plays in special section of the theater. (Sorry, I don't remember more of the details.)

There was also the artistic/poetic element to his works...

Answer 7

Language evolves over time, words are invented or used more often, etc. For instance, if you look at slang in the 50s, I bet half the people in 2006 wouldn't know what the hell they were talking about... and that was only 50 years ago!

Answer 8

Maybe he cared very deeply about using words to express himself. No different than a genius of art, music, mathematics, etc. If one takes pride in, and practices at what they enjoy most out of life, without following any set rules, the avenue for genius exudes through the individual. :)

Answer 9

Wake up and smell the coffee, dude--- language changes with the times..go back preShakespere about 200 more years and you would not be able to read a word of it..

Answer 10

It was common English when he wrote his plays. He was from England and he used proper usage of the language, and being that it was an "artistic production" he wrote it poetically.