1. Shakespeare's Language
Thy blah, thou blah, thee blah
Shakespeare's Language

2. The Language
The language of Shakespeare can appear confusing and daunting when first reading his work.
Many people become confused and turned off by his work because of the language.
The English language contains about 300,000 words, but your vocabulary is about 3000 and you get by on a daily basis with about 150.
By contrast, William Shakespeare had a vocabulary of 15,000 words and invented many of the words and phrases that we still use today.

3. Re-Inventing the Language
Re-Inventing the Language
Shakespeare is not the last person to re-invent the English language.
Like it or hate it computers and mobile phones have changed the way we write and communicate with each other.

4. The Language of Text Messaging
Here is an example of a conversation that may occur on MSN or through mobile phone texts.
Sam: Wotz up...R U OK...Wotz d
James: brb.....POS
Sam: lol....;-)
James: Shes gone...Noting d
Sam: You going 2 Steves prt this W/E or hanging wit UR GF
James: ROFL....chilln wit GF...I h8t Steve....

5. Shakespearean Text Messages
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet…
FeudTween2hses—Montague&Capulet.
RomeoM
Bt R kils J’s Cox&isbanishd. J fakes Death. As
Part of Plan2b-w/R Bt_leter Bt It Nvr Reachs
Him. Evry1confuzd—bothLuvrs kil Emselves.
Translate the above passage into your own words using CORRECT ENGLISH!

6. The Language of Text Messaging
List down five reasons for how and why our language has evolved through the use of text messaging: 1 2 3 4 5

7. Shakespearean Language
Thou, thee and thy – These mean you, you, and your, respectively. These words dropped out of our language a couple of centuries ago, but Shakespeare uses them. The verb that is used with “thou” changes as well.
Example: “ Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit,
Wilt thou not Jule?”
Translation: You will fall backward when you have more wit,
Will you not, Jule?

8. Shakespearean Language
2. Inversion – Sometimes Shakespeare will invert the verb and the subject.
For instance, he might write, “Went I to Bellarmine.” instead of “I Went to Bellarmine.”
Example: “Then dreams he of another’s benefice.”
Translation: He dreams of another’s benefice.

9. Others Who Invert the Language
Powerful you have become, the dark side I sense in you. -- Yoda Grave danger you are in. Impatient you are. -- Yoda
Try not. Do or do not, there is no try. -- Yoda
Help you I can, yes. -- Yoda
When 900 years you reach, look as good, you will not. -- Yoda

10. Shakespearean Language
Shakespearean Language
3. Diction – There are three ‘problems’ with Shakespeare’s word choices:
Firstly - he uses words that no longer exist in the English we speak.
Secondly - he uses words that are in our language, but now have a different meaning to us.
Thirdly – he uses words that are in our language, but we simply don’t know what these words mean – you should look them up.

11. Shakespearean Vocabulary
Some translations to help you …
still = always
soft = slowly, gently
mark = listen
an = if
fell = cruel, fierce, deadly
to-night = last night
perforce = we must, you must
kind = true to one’s nature

12. Shakespearean Vocabulary
ay = yes fain = gladly marry = swear word anon = at once plague, pox, ague = disease Wherefore = why Aye = yes E’en = even E’er = ever Fair = beautiful

13. Shakespearean Vocabulary
Haply = by chance
Hath = has
Marry = yes, indeed
Prithee = please
Thy = your
Whence = where
Wilt = will, will you

14. Shakespearean Vocabulary
Alack: Alas!
This is an expression of sorrow or sympathy
“Alack alack! Help, help! My lady’s dead!” (Act IV Scene 5)
Anon: Soon
“Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague be true!” (Act II Scene 2)
Art: are
“Thou art thyself though not a Montague.” (Act II Scene 2)
Hither: here
“Meantime I writ to Romeo that he should hither come as this dire night.” (Act V Scene 2)

15. Shakespearean Vocabulary
Fie: expression of anger
“Fie, fie, thou shamest thy shape, thy love, thy wit.” (Act III Scene 3)
Hence: away from here
“Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.” (Act V Scene 2)
“Therefore hence be gone!” (Act V Scene 2)
Hie: hurry
“Then hie you hence to Friar Laurence’ cell.” (Act II Scene 5)

16. Shakespearean Vocabulary
Thee/Thou: you
“Thou art consortest with Romeo.” (Act III Scene 1)
Tis: it is
“Tis but thy name that is thy enemy.” (Act II Scene 2)

17. Try it Yourself
Try writing sentences to accomplish the following things:
Ask someone to dance with you. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
You are late to a meeting or game – order your friend to hurry up. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Beg your parents to let you stay out an extra hour past curfew. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

18. Try it Yourself Haply, wilt thou dance with me?
Hie! We must hence to the meeting/game!
Prithee, Mom and Dad! I beg thee to let me stay out late tonight!

19. Try it Yourself
Now that you have converted modern language to Shakespearean language, try converting the following passages from Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets into the modern language of today.

20. Try it Yourself
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown!” (Henry IV Part I) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…” (Romeo and Juliet) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Shall I compare you to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.” (Sonnet 18) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. Try it Yourself
The head (the person) who wears a crown (a ruler, king, queen, etc.) will never be at rest.
What does a name mean? If we renamed a rose and called it something else, it would still smell just as nice.
Let me compare you to a summer day. You are more beautiful and more gentle.