1066 - Shakespeare's English

Shakespeare's English

Shakespeare's Language of Humour

[ This topic is developed in more detail here. ]

TOUCHSTONE. ... Therefore, you clown, abandon — which is in the vulgar leave - the society — which in the boorish is company — of this female — which in the common is woman — which together is: abandon the society of this female; or, clown, thou perishest; or, to thy better understanding, diest ...

(As You Like It, V. 1. 44-50)

Shakespeare makes fun of medieval and Renaissance French

The mutual relationship between Anglo-Saxon and French was still far from easy

The words "society", "female", "perish", which had come from Latin by way of French, and the French word "abandon" were late Middle English — early Modern English borrowings

The words still retained their “foreignness”

Shakespeare contrasts the non-assimilated Latinate words with their Anglo-Saxon counterparts or with completely assimilated Romance words for humorous effects

Here is another example, this time from Love's Labour's Lost:

ARMADO. Sir, it is the King's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate the Princess at her pavilion in the posteriors of this day, which the rude multitude call the afternoon.

HOLOFERNES. The posterior of the day, most generous sir, is liable, congruent, and measurable for the afternoon. The word is well culled, choice, sweet, and apt, I do assure you, sir, I do assure.

(Love's Labour's Lost, V.i)