Journal Entry 6–Langfocus YouTube Channel–How Much of Modern English Came From Shakespeare?

Fig. 1. Still from Langfocus YouTube Channel.

 

 

 

Paul from the Langfocus Youtube Channel, states Shakespeare, one of the most known writers of all time, wrote thirty-eight plays and 150 poems. However, they’re not so easy to understand because they were written in Early Modern English during the years 1590-1613. Shakespeare not only made an impact on culture, but more importantly on today’s English language – an extensive one at that.

    

aul continues that it has commonly been asserted that Shakespeare “created” 1700 words that are used in Modern English. However, Paul states there needs to be a reassessment of that claim because although the words do appear in writing for the first time in Shakespeare’s works, that didn’t necessarily mean Shakespeare wrote them since these words might have been in widespread use colloquially. Additionally, some of the 1700 “created” words also appeared in earlier, more obscure literature.  Instead, Paul states it would be better to say that Shakespeare “popularized” the use of the words instead of creating them – although it’s impossible to assert which words he created himself and which he didn’t.

    

hat is indisputable though, is that Shakespeare wrote some idioms (a widely used saying or expression containing a figurative meaning that differs from the phrase's literal meaning) which are still in use today. Some of which are:

1. too much of a good thing
2. come full circle
3. the be-all and end-all
4. to have the makings of
5. neither rhyme or reason
6. one fell swoop
7. and as luck would have it.

 

hakespeare also added to the English vocabulary words which had never existed before. This included him forming a new word by combining two existing words together. Some of which are:

1. upstairs from up + stairs
2. downstairs from down + stairs
3. birthplace from birth + place
4. eyeball from eye + ball
5. watchdog from watch + dog

hakespeare was also the first one to use some verbs as nouns such as in the words:

1. bump
2. control
3. hint
4. go-between

hakespeare also made some nouns became verbs such as:

1. torture
2. cater

hakespeare further made new words by adding affixes to existing words such as in:

1. successful – by adding –ful to success
2. useful – by adding –ful to use
3. amazement – by adding -ment to amaze
4. countless – by adding –less to count
5. employer – by adding –er to employ
6. employment  - by adding –ment to employ
7. fashionable – by adding –able to fashion
8. magestic – by adding –ic to majesty
9. misquote – by adding mis- to quote

hakespeare also removed affixes to make new words:

1. Impede by removing the –ment from impediment
2. negotiation by removing the –tion from negotiation

 

     He also gave new meanings to existing words in different languages and making an English word out of it such as the English word, retirement from a French word, retirement. Some words were completely new like puke, and bet.

     William Shakespeare’s contribution to the English language is nothing short of impressive.

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Works Cited:

Geleynse, Joyce. “alphabet-6916985_1280.” Pixabay, 22 Jan. 2022. https://pixabay.com/illustrations/alphabet-letters-decorated-letters-6916985/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2023.

Langfocus. “How Much of Modern English Came From Shakespeare???” YouTube, 13 May 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny-G1ijEcSo&t=8s.

RMerrill. “shakespeare-4727496_1280.” Pixabay, 29 Dec. 2019.  https://pixabay.com/photos/shakespeare-bust-golden-gate-park-4727496/. Accessed 14 Oct. 2023.