LECTURE 9LECTURE 9
Early Modern Early Modern English:English:
language (II)language (II)Lei ZHU
Shanghai International Studies University
ISTORY OF ENGLISHISTORY OF ENGLISH
5 Grammar
5 Grammar
5 Grammar
The Cambridge History of the English Language, Vol III, p. 151.
5 Grammar
cat : cat’s = it : ?
it’s
its
Shakespeare:
But value dwells not in particular will:It holds his estimate and dignity.— Troilus and Cressida, Act II, Scene II
It lifted up it head— Hamlet, Act I, Scene II
The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,
That it had it head bit off by it young.— King Lear, Act I, Scene IV
5 Grammar
5 Grammar
5 Grammar
5 Grammar
5 Grammar
6 Vocabulary
Direct borrowing from Latin and Greek
6 Vocabulary
“Inkhorn terms”
7 Reading practice (VI)
• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
7 Reading practice (VI)
• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles:
The aim of this Dictionary is to present in alphabetical series the words that have formed the English vocabulary from the time of the earliest records down to the present day, with all the relevant facts concerning their form, sense-history, pronunciation, and etymology.
Je le ai vu. Je la ai vue.
Je l’ai vu.
I him have seen
Je l’ai vue.
I her have seen