Between 1400 and 1700, English went through a major vowel shift that changed the way words were pronounced. The pronunciation of Middle English long vowels changed into how we pronounce them today/has affected English worldwide, and well as consotant changes (silent letters come from this, knife used have the k pronounced, and this can actually still be heard in German as well. Kneipe (German for pub/bar), for eg, is pronounced with the k).
Example, in Middle English the word “house” was pronounced hu:s “hoos”. With the Great Vowel Shift it changed to haʊs “howse”.
My favourite pic displaying the evolution. Middle English is still almost parsable, but old english is basically old German haha
Also the change of implication. In middle English, God sets one down in the pasture, King James says God makes one lie in pastures, but Modern has God allows one to lay in the pasture.
And the change of feohland to pasture. I love this stuff so fucking much.
Keep talking. I’m learning.
Between 1400 and 1700, English went through a major vowel shift that changed the way words were pronounced. The pronunciation of Middle English long vowels changed into how we pronounce them today/has affected English worldwide, and well as consotant changes (silent letters come from this, knife used have the k pronounced, and this can actually still be heard in German as well. Kneipe (German for pub/bar), for eg, is pronounced with the k).
Example, in Middle English the word “house” was pronounced hu:s “hoos”. With the Great Vowel Shift it changed to haʊs “howse”.
I love Middle English. It can look like gibberish at first, but pretend to be drunk & Scottish 98% of it works. The other words are probably Danish.
My favourite pic displaying the evolution. Middle English is still almost parsable, but old english is basically old German haha
Also the change of implication. In middle English, God sets one down in the pasture, King James says God makes one lie in pastures, but Modern has God allows one to lay in the pasture.
And the change of feohland to pasture. I love this stuff so fucking much.
I love side by side versions like those! (I did send you that book link?) it makes the changes and similarities so obvious 😺 language is fun.
You did send it to me iirc, I haven’t had time to source it but will so after this thread has me on several linguistic rabbit holes haha!
I just checked and it’s saved on my wishlist lol
Definitely check out Language Jones on YT, he’s a linguist and it’s so refreshing to watch someone with such a vast amount of knowledge!
That’s a pretty American argument…
Bruh 😂😂😂💀