If the Renaissance started in Italy, why do Ren-Fest geeks speak with a phony English accent?

Question

Its a French word for a movement with roots in Italy, so seriously, what is up with" Mayest I get thee another turkey leg m'lady?"

Answer 1

While the Renaissance started in Italy, the change from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance (which means rebirth in French) was much more noticable in Feudal England, where a strange light in the sky meant the world was going to end or some such nonsense.

I don't know why they put on the English accent, maybe it's the easiest accent for Americans to do. Maybe they figure that a bunch of strangly dressed people waving their arms and talking about pasta would not be as big a crowd pleaser.
They don't even really talk with the right accent, I believe that the Renaissance took place when they were still speaking Old or Middle English-- "Thous" and "thees" and "Mayests" are from Early Modern English.

Answer 2

Perhaps because they are actually dealing with the Renaissance of the 12th Century, or the High Middle Ages.

From Wikipedia:

The Renaissance of the 12th century was a period of many changes during the High Middle Ages. It included social political and economic transformations, and an intellectual revitalization of Europe with strong philosophical and scientific roots. These changes paved the way to later achievements such as the literary and artistic movement of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century and the scientific developments of the 17th century.

The Crusades are from during this time, while the jousting happened later, in 14th to 16th centuries. But it all began in England, and English is our mother tongue, no matter how poorly we phony it up. Better an English accent than an Italian one -- I've heard what that sounds like . Just relax, enjoy -- or don't go if it bothers you that much.

Answer 3

Because it's fun to change your speech patterns when you get into character, for one thing. Also, the renaissance spread throughout Europe, including England, so that's not really an issue. Additionally, it's far more entertaining for the tourists to the ren-faire if you speak in a language they'll be able to decipher. Italian or French would make the whole thing completely incomprehensible to most Americans, who are amazing if they can properly speak one language.

Answer 4

Because Britain went through the Renaissance as well and that's how they spoke there? In fact, most of Europe went through the Renaissance. It wasn't an isolated incident. Geek.

Or maybe because if they actually spoke French or Italian we ignorant Americans wouldn't understand them anyway since we only speak English-and just barely at that.

Answer 5

Maybe because people who only speak English don't speak japanese and therefor don't know what a korean sounds like when speaking japanese....did you ever think about that? I get what you mean, but I don't get why you would not understand that people who only speak English wouldn't really care about that since you are talking about America, right? Where the language is English and the majority of people speak English and only English.

Answer 6

because people in the ren-fair dont want to learn renaissance italian..so they go to the next best thing....forsooth (that is the proper name for this type of speech) which was popularized and became more identifiable with shakespeare...

Answer 7

Yeah, I always wondered why the Renaissance fairs always has people acting like they are from the middle ages.

Answer 8

Because this was the time of Shakespeare.

Answer 9

it's all a saloon sh*t.