The Renovation of English Vocabulary from Old English to Modern English - Research Paper Example

Thesis Statement: The early Modern Period was transformative in nature and the renovation of English vocabulary from Old English to Modern English, which is illustrated by the analysis of Text 81 from ‘Canterbury Tales,’ helped the progress of the language as a whole. Topic Sentence 1: An analysis of the history of English language establishes that “English progressed from Old English to Middle English (Chaucer's Canterbury Tales) to Early Modern English (Shakespeare). [and] Pronunciation and vocabulary are the two areas of language in which variations are more readily noticeable over long stretches of time.

” (Waters) Topic Sentence 2: In the transformation of English language from Old English to Modern English, crucial changes have taken place in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation which is illustrated by an analysis of these elements in ‘Canterbury Tales’ compared with Modern English equivalents. Topic Sentence 3: “Several lexical practices transform Chaucer’s traditional English into something that appears to be new and they are all interrelated.” and the most prominent lexical practices in Chaucer’s traditional English relate to the development of English vocabulary.

(Cannon, 91) Topic Sentence 4: In the Text 81 from the ‘Canterbury Tales’ one finds several examples of the origins of the vocabulary and a comparison of the original Old English vocabulary and their Modern English equivalents proves how the vocabulary developed over ages. Origins of the Vocabulary and the ‘Canterbury Tales’ The development of a language depends on several factors and one of the major elements in the development of a language has been vocabulary. The early Modern Period was transformative in nature and the renovation of English vocabulary from Old English to Modern English helped the progress of the language as a whole.

The origin and development of English vocabulary from Old English to Modern English is illustrated by the analysis of Text 81 from ‘Canterbury Tales’. In the transformation of English language from Old English to Modern English, crucial changes have taken place in vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation which is illustrated by an analysis of these elements in ‘Canterbury Tales’ compared with Modern English equivalents. In the Text 81 from the ‘Canterbury Tales’ one finds several examples of the origins of the vocabulary and a comparison of the original Old English vocabulary and their Modern English equivalents proves how the vocabulary developed over ages.

The Friar’s Prologue in ‘Canterbury Tales’, for example, opens with the lines: “This worthy lymytour, this noble frere, / He made alwey a maner louryng chiere / Upon the somonour, but for honestee / No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he.” (Freeborn) This can be read in the Modern English as follows: “This worthy limiter, this noble friar, / He turned always a lowering face, and dire, / Upon the summoner, but for courtesy / No rude and insolent word as yet spoke he.” (Freeborn) The changes or the developments in each of these items can be easily recognised by the readers and this progress in the vocabulary of the language reflects the general nature of English language which has developed over several periods.

In conclusion, the history of English language establishes that the language progressed from Old English to Middle English to Early Modern English and the vocabulary is a major area of language in which variations are more readily noticeable over long stretches of time. Works Cited Cannon, Christopher. The Making of Chaucer's English: A Study of Words. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 1998. P 91. Waters, Jen. Whither English?: Language Shifts with Cultural Changes. World and I. Vol. 19. Iss. 11. 2004. Freeborn, 237-246.