Shakespearean would be Elizabethan English. It is the language of the King James Version of the Bible as well. Write your text in modern English and then go back and change these things:
Change the verbs that end in "es" or "s" with "eth" or "est" instead. For example, "He changes the filter every day." would become "He changeth the filter every day." Change the 2nd person singular, used as a subject, from You to Thou. For example, "You change the filter every day." becomes "Thou changest the filter every day." Change the 2nd person singular used as an object to Thee. For example, "I did not ask you to change the filter" becomes "I did not ask thee to change the filter." The possessive singular, like "Your", becomes "Thy". Example: "Your filter needs changing" becomes "Thy filter needeth changing". Change 2nd person plural, "You," used as a subject to "Ye". For example, "You people need to change your filters monthly" becomes "Ye people need to change your filters monthly." 2nd person plural used as an object does not change. It stays "you".
Common, irregular, verbs are a little harder: To be, for example:
I am
Thou Art
He is
We are
Ye are
They are
To do:
I do
Thou dost
He doth
We do
Ye do
They do
To go:
I go
Thou goest
He goeth
We go
Ye go
They go
To have:
I have
Thou hast
He hath
We have
Ye have
They have
This will get you close, maybe not perfect, but close. Hardly anyone knows these rules, so most people just add "-eth" to every word and sound very stupid. If you at least don't do that you will be light years ahead.
2007-01-18 12:39:40
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answer #1
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answered by Emmaean 5
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Look up Shakespeare's Sonnets - he has over 100 love letters written in 'Shakespearean' language (which is, technically, Elizabethan English).
Elizabethan English uses "thee" for "you" in the polite accusative, "thou" for "you" in the polite nominative, "ye" for "you" impolite plural, and "you" for "you" in the impolite singular. It uses "mine" instead of "my" (in the plural) and uses "-est" on the end of present tense verbs (i.e. "Thou sayest" = "You (polite) say"), but only in the 2nd person. It also uses "-eth" for the present tense in the 3rd person (i.e. "he sayeth" = "he says").
Example:
"You say 'Hello' to me, and I my eyes fill with joy."
"Thou sayest 'Hello' to me, and mine eyes fill with joy."
Here is Shakespear's 8th Sonnet:
Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?
Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy:
Why lov'st thou that which thou receiv'st not gladly,
Or else receiv'st with pleasure thine annoy?
If the true concord of well-tuned sounds,
By unions married, do offend thine ear,
They do but sweetly chide thee, who confounds
In singleness the parts that thou shouldst bear.
Mark how one string, sweet husband to another,
Strikes each in each by mutual ordering;
Resembling sire and child and happy mother,
Who, all in one, one pleasing note do sing:
Whose speechless song being many, seeming one,
Sings this to thee: 'Thou single wilt prove none.'
Here is a link to more sonnets:
http://www.shakespeares-sonnets.com/
Edit your question and let me know if you need more info on how the language is constructed.
Translation:
Elizabethan Grammar -
When you write in Elizabethan (or Shakesperean) English, here are some things to do.
1) When you write the word "you." If it is the subject of the sentence (like "You are great"), use "Thou" instead. ("Thou are great")
2) When you write the word "you." If it is the direct object of the sentence (like "I like you"), use "thee" instead. ("I like thee")
3) When you write the word "are," use "art." For example, "You are great" is "Thou art great."
4) When you write the word "your" ("That is your pencil") use "thy" instead. ("That is thy pencil").
5) When you write "you" followed by a present-tense verb (like "You say," "you write," "you walk"), add "-est" to the end. So: "Thou sayest," "thou writest," "thou walkest."
6) When you write "he," "she," or "it" followed by a present tense verb (like "he says," "she writes," "it walks") add "-eth" to the ending. So: "he sayeth," "she writeth," "it walketh".
7) When you write "my" folowed by a plural noun (like "my shoes" or "my papers") use "mine" instead. So: "mine shoes," "mine papers." Otherwise just use "my" for singular nouns: "my shoe," "my paper."
Translation of Shakespear's 8th Sonnet:
Music to hear, why hear'st thou music sadly?
(There is) music to hear, so why do you hear it with sadness?
Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy:
Sweet things do not fight against other sweet things, and joy always gets along with joy.
Why lov'st thou that which thou receiv'st not gladly,
Why do love something that does not make you happy?
Or else receiv'st with pleasure thine annoy?
Or take pleasure in something that annoys you?
If the true concord of well-tuned sounds,
If the harmony of pleasant sounds,
By unions married, do offend thine ear,
make combinations that offend your ears,
They do but sweetly chide thee, who confounds
They gently punish you, and confuse...
In singleness the parts that thou shouldst bear.
by themselves the parts that you should like.
Mark how one string, sweet husband to another,
Listen to how one string, the partner of another,
Strikes each in each by mutual ordering;
makes its sound with each other by sounding in their proper order;
Resembling sire and child and happy mother,
sounding like a father, child and a happy mother,
Who, all in one, one pleasing note do sing:
who each sing a single note together,
Whose speechless song being many, seeming one,
(and) even though they sing three different songs, they seem like one,
Sings this to thee: 'Thou single wilt prove none.'
and say to you, "You can't do anything by yourself."
2007-01-18 19:53:05
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answer #3
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answered by NONAME 7
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