The History of English Podcast
History
In this episode, we turn our attention to the wordcraft of William Shakespeare. Today, many people have mixed opinions about his plays and poems. They know that he is widely regarded as the greatest English writer of all time, but they struggle with his language. This time, we explore what makes Shakespeare’s use of the English language so unique and why it is so challenging for modern speakers. Ben Crystal joins the discussion to provide insight into the Elizabethan theater, Shakespeare’s Original Pronunciation, and the way modern audiences respond to that original form of speech.
Episode 157: Highlands, Lowlands and Netherlands
Episode 156: Beggars, Cheats and Thieves
Episode 155: Back to Basics
Episode 154: English Equality
Episode 153: Zombie Letters
Episode 152: As the Saying Goes
Episode 151: Sick to Death
Episode 150: A Capital Offense
Episode 149: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Episode 148: A Marital Union
Episode 147: A Rude and Rusty Language
Episode 146: A Brand New World
Episode 145: A Sea Change for Europe
Episode 144: A Murder of Crows and Princes
Bonus Episode: Chaucer’s Purse and the Great Vowel Shift
Episode 143: The Great Vowel Shift (Part 3)
Episode 142: The Great Vowel Shift (Part 2)
Episode 141: The Great Vowel Shift (Part 1)
Episode 140: You Say ‘To-may-to’
Episode 139: The Business of Printing
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