I love the language of Shakespeare and Marlowe and all of them. Even the 18th /19th century writers, the Brontes, Austen, Dickens. It's amazing the transformation language has gone through. Back then words seemed cryptic, but only to us modern day speakers. In actuality, the language was elegant, metaphoric and just beautiful. Even something as simple as "let's take a walk" sounds so much better as "lady, will you walk about with your friend?" Or how about confessing your heart "I love you" or "For I cannot be mine own, nor any thing to any, if I be not thine." Now which sounds better? That's what I thought. Unfortunately, it's hard to find people with a true love of Shakespeare because they find it so hard to understand and it requires sooo much thinking and this I find to be a travesty. Of course, I don't know if people actually spoke to each other like they do in the plays, probably no since it rhymed more often then not but still it sounds so much better.
Even the works of Austen, which is easier to understand, still evident of a more elegant way of conversing. I think part of it has to do with grammar and sentence structure and just phrasing.
"Liz, let's walk a little around the room. It'll be a nice change from sitting this whole time." or
"Miss Eliza Bennet, let me persuade you to follow my example, and take a turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude."
"Will you marry me?" or
"If, your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes have not changed. But one word from you will silence me forever. If, however, your feelings have changed...I would have to tell you, you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love...I love... I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on."
So many more words yes but sounds infinitely more elegant. I blame the fact that we are Americans. The English have a reputation for a love of the language. Depending on how it is said you can hear the extra care in the words when spoken. Yes, America was born of the English but we were also very desperate to separate ourselves from them. I mean have you ever wondered where accents originated from? Boston, Upstate New York, Brooklyn, Staten Island, "Minnesoda", Midwest, Texan, Southern. If the origins were from Britain, how did all of these accents spring up? Even within different regions there are different accents. It's kinda crazy. Language is crazy and wonderful and I want to learn as many as I can. Currently in the middle of learning French and Italian. And I want to become fluent in Spanish, but my confidence in my abilities is none. I think too much which in turn trips me up and I go blank. Anyways, language. Go read an Old English piece of literature. And don't think too much about the meanings but instead let the meanings just manifest themselves of their own accord. And if you're not ready for Old English, check out the 18th Century. You will not be disappointed.
Unless you want to be.
