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When did Shakespeare live
late 16th and early 17th century
What period of English does Shakespeare’s language belong to?
It belongs to Early Modern English, also called the Renaissance period.
What was the Great Vowel Shift?
It was a big change in how long vowels were pronounced, for example time used to sound like teem.
Why do some rhymes in Shakespeare not work in Modern English?
Because vowels were different then, so words that used to rhyme no longer do
Was the sound /r/ still pronounced in Shakespeare’s time?
Yes, /r/ was still pronounced, unlike in modern British English.
How was “wh” pronounced during the Renaissance?
It was pronounced as /hw/, so what sounded like hwat
What are the two ways to ask a question in Shakespeare’s English?
Either with inversion, like Know you the man?, or with do, like Do you know the man?
Give an example of an old-style question without do.
Saw you my lord today?
Give an example of a new-style question with do.
Do you see my lord today?
Why did writers sometimes prefer to use do in questions?
To give emphasis, to make rhythm smoother, or simply because it was becoming popular.
What are the two ways to make negatives in Shakespeare’s English?
I know not him and I do not know him.
Which form became standard in Modern English: I know not or I do not know?
The form with do — I do not know — became the standard
