The Spoken History of a Global Language

Episode 175: The English of Romeo and Juliet

March 25, 2024 1:32:35 16.55 MB ( 51.16 MB less) Downloads: 0

Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays and one of the most popular plays ever written. In this episode, we examine the language of the play to see how it reflects the English of Elizabethan England, … Continue reading →

Episode 174: Speak and Spell

February 08, 2024 1:28:54 65.06 MB Downloads: 0

English spelling largely reflects the state of the language in the late 1500s. In this episode, we look at one of the first English spelling books, and we explore several plays by William Shakespeare to examine the way he rhymed … Continue reading →

Episode 173: Fooling Around

January 02, 2024 1:24:54 62.18 MB Downloads: 0

In this episode, we look at the development of English comedy in the early modern era. We examine some of William Shakespeare’s early comedies, and we also distinguish Shakespearean comedy from other types of comedic performances which had been popular … Continue reading →

Episode 172: Succession

November 20, 2023 1:34:37 69.17 MB Downloads: 0

In this episode, we explore the concept of a successful succession. During the early 1590s, France was divided by a bitter conflict over the succession of Henry of Navarre to the French throne. Meanwhile, William Shakespeare wrote a couple of … Continue reading →

Episode 171: Shakespeare’s English (featuring Ben Crystal)

October 09, 2023 1:06:55 49.23 MB Downloads: 0

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 … Continue reading →

Episode 170: Printers, Plague and Poets

September 05, 2023 1:17:28 56.82 MB Downloads: 0

In this episode, we examine the connection between poetry and plague in the early 1590s. An outbreak of the recurring sickness contributed to Shakespeare’s early career as a poet, and that poetry likely included his many sonnets. We also examine … Continue reading →

Episode 169: Shakespeare Documented

July 25, 2023 1:00:30 44.61 MB Downloads: 0

William Shakespeare is widely considered to be the most important writer in the history of the English language, but relatively little is known about his personal life. The desire to know more about the ‘Bard of Avon’ has led to … Continue reading →

Episode 168: Witches, Demons and Fairies

May 31, 2023 1:56:00 84.58 MB Downloads: 0

In this episode, we explore the Elizabethan fascination with witchcraft and mysterious creatures like fairies and demons. Those subjects feature prominently in the literature of the period, and they reveal a lot about the world view of the people who … Continue reading →

Episode 167: The Rhythm of English

April 24, 2023 1:08:11 50.15 MB Downloads: 0

All languages have their own rhythm and cadence, and English is no exception. That rhythm has actually shaped the language over time. It contributed to the structure of English poetry, and during the Elizabethan period, it shaped the way drama … Continue reading →

Bonus Episode: Rise and Fall of the Classic Movie Accent

March 31, 2023 41:07 30.65 MB Downloads: 0

In this episode from the Patreon archives, we examine the accent used by actors and actresses in very old movies. We look at the origin of that accent and examine why it was adopted by the film industry in the … Continue reading →

Episode 166: The Arte of Warre

March 07, 2023 1:15:39 55.52 MB Downloads: 0

In 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail for England in an attempt to depose Elizabeth I and replace her with a Spanish princess. In this episode, we examine how the English victory secured the status of English within the Church … Continue reading →

Episode 165: Glamorous Grammar

January 30, 2023 1:01:34 45.38 MB Downloads: 0

William Bullokar composed the first formal grammar of the English language in 1586. Prior to that point, the concept of grammar had been largely restricted to Latin. Bullokar’s work extended the concept to English, but it did so by employing … Continue reading →

Episode 164: Somewhere in the Middle

December 20, 2022 1:18:58 57.91 MB Downloads: 0

Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth I was faced with many difficult decisions, and she often chose a middle path when she could. In this episode, we explore the middle paths taken during her reign, and the consequences of those … Continue reading →

Episode 163: An Elementary Education

November 09, 2022 1:09:54 51.38 MB Downloads: 0

By the second half of the Elizabethan period, the perception of English had changed significantly in England. It was increasingly perceived as a sophisticated language capable of matching the refinement of other European languages. One of the language’s most vocal … Continue reading →

Episode 162: The Pirate Queen

October 06, 2022 1:07:48 49.87 MB Downloads: 0

In the 1570s, Francis Drake plundered Spanish ships throughout the New World with the private permission of Elizabeth I. His actions marked the first direct challenge to Spanish naval supremacy in the region, and also marked the beginning the English … Continue reading →