(A series on how English has evolved since the birth of the language and the birth of Shakespeare)
It was the 26th of April, 1564. It was a dark evening. Clouds had covered every inch of the summer sky in England. Lightning and thunder had scared the average Englishman to stay in his house. But one man was walking along a small kurukku sandhu in Warwickshire. The man had wrapped himself in big Polar bear furs (back then there was no PETA) and was walking urgently towards a house - the house of the nurse.
He knocked on the door and in exasperated tones told the nurse - "Baboochi Lagothar Malatum Kada".
The shocked nurse immediately dressed up and went running to the man's house. A woman lying there was in labours and shrieking in pain. The nurse was doing everything she could while outside the thunderstorm had just gotten worse. It was as if the heavens were desperately trying to keep the child from coming out alive. The Gods were scared of this soul which was destined to change the World.
A few more agonising moments later, the storm suddenly fizzled out. And the thunder of the thunder in the small room was now replaced with cries of a young new born baby. The parents and the nurse thanked the Gods, the gods who had so desperately tried to prevent this, and there that day in Stratford-upon-Avon was born, William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare was a very different boy. While everyone spoke in one language, William Shakespeare spoke in a different one. He wrote plays and dramas which no one could understand. People cursed him, hated him for writing so much. They called him nincompoop, a chowderhead, a noodledick, a fanny and a winnit and many other such words he had himself invented. .
In 21st Century, a few 10's of generations later, the consequences of William Shakespeare are still lasting. Students still cant understand what he wrote, still call him names (a little advanced ones now), and whats worse they all seem to think his name is "Shakesphere" and cannot fathom even in their wildest thoughts why someone would call a small plump boy a speare instead of a sphere. Its quite a different thing altogether that they find his entire name dull, difficult to pronounce and hence highly unimaginative. Lets face it, you wouldn't wake up one fine day to name your dog, cat or even your son Shakespeare. Why no sense of fashionability ?? The name is not even listed in the latest version of 1000 names for Baby Christian boys.
Anyway, thats his problem not ours. Point is, Shakespeare was the beginning of what can be called the End of Language. He was the one who first proved to us that if you dont know your language, you could also create your own words and meanings and still become a Legend. He created some 40000 new words, redefined what grammar was and set new standards. Now that's what I call setting a bad precedent. Don't get the point ? I'll explain.
Take for instance, the most respected modern English literary figure from Tamil Nadu - Jeppiar. Jeppiar is time and again slammed by purists for what they call is "English at its worst". But then the inspiringly determined Jeppiar says "That my the own way of the talking Englees" which roughly translates to "It is my own way of speaking in English". Understandable. Analysing the structure of his sentences, his is closer to Samuel Johnson and to William Shakespeare than to modern day English writers and authorities.
A splendid case in study of Jeppiar's deviation from modern English usage will be evident from the following speech. Take a look.
Eg 1 : "Our University to educate for the student, not only syllabus first of all human value education"
Deviation: Verb missing. Full stop missing somewhere there.
Eg 2: "Sellabus only degree, but human value education there is no degree"
Deviation: Grave Pronounciation error. Verb missing in leading phrase. Improper combination of phrases.
Eg 3: "Future life is very peaceful life"
Deviation: Improper use of tenses
Eg 4: "Thats why in our University to introduce all student first of all smart and neat"
Deviation: Er... Improper everything.
Eg 5: "Almost all students, brotherhood important. Sister"
Deviation: Verb missing. Noun independently cannot form a sentence. Misuse of Almost.
Eg 6: "Among the brother of the sister, family life important"
Deviation: Verb Missing. Doesn't convey any sense.
Eg 7: "So that is called in Sathyabhama is the education temple but come to the university we take care the same manner of the father mother what is your father mother what today the same education in Sathyabhama"
Deviation: No English detected.
So, while the rest of the World may accuse Jeppiar of polluting the great language of English, he maintains that the new syntax characterised by total irreverence to the roles traditionally assumed by verbs, adjectives and nouns, will be the future of this language. So, dont be surprised if your grandsons grandson talks Jeppiarish English when you are watching him from heaven or hell or from a time machine or whatever. That'll be their language.
But then Jeppiar is not the only maverick who wishes to do things his own way. There are others who by virtue of their splendid communication skills redefine English everyday.
(To Be Continued...)
It was the 26th of April, 1564. It was a dark evening. Clouds had covered every inch of the summer sky in England. Lightning and thunder had scared the average Englishman to stay in his house. But one man was walking along a small kurukku sandhu in Warwickshire. The man had wrapped himself in big Polar bear furs (back then there was no PETA) and was walking urgently towards a house - the house of the nurse.
He knocked on the door and in exasperated tones told the nurse - "Baboochi Lagothar Malatum Kada".
The shocked nurse immediately dressed up and went running to the man's house. A woman lying there was in labours and shrieking in pain. The nurse was doing everything she could while outside the thunderstorm had just gotten worse. It was as if the heavens were desperately trying to keep the child from coming out alive. The Gods were scared of this soul which was destined to change the World.
A few more agonising moments later, the storm suddenly fizzled out. And the thunder of the thunder in the small room was now replaced with cries of a young new born baby. The parents and the nurse thanked the Gods, the gods who had so desperately tried to prevent this, and there that day in Stratford-upon-Avon was born, William Shakespeare.
William Shakespeare was a very different boy. While everyone spoke in one language, William Shakespeare spoke in a different one. He wrote plays and dramas which no one could understand. People cursed him, hated him for writing so much. They called him nincompoop, a chowderhead, a noodledick, a fanny and a winnit and many other such words he had himself invented. .
In 21st Century, a few 10's of generations later, the consequences of William Shakespeare are still lasting. Students still cant understand what he wrote, still call him names (a little advanced ones now), and whats worse they all seem to think his name is "Shakesphere" and cannot fathom even in their wildest thoughts why someone would call a small plump boy a speare instead of a sphere. Its quite a different thing altogether that they find his entire name dull, difficult to pronounce and hence highly unimaginative. Lets face it, you wouldn't wake up one fine day to name your dog, cat or even your son Shakespeare. Why no sense of fashionability ?? The name is not even listed in the latest version of 1000 names for Baby Christian boys.
Anyway, thats his problem not ours. Point is, Shakespeare was the beginning of what can be called the End of Language. He was the one who first proved to us that if you dont know your language, you could also create your own words and meanings and still become a Legend. He created some 40000 new words, redefined what grammar was and set new standards. Now that's what I call setting a bad precedent. Don't get the point ? I'll explain.
Take for instance, the most respected modern English literary figure from Tamil Nadu - Jeppiar. Jeppiar is time and again slammed by purists for what they call is "English at its worst". But then the inspiringly determined Jeppiar says "That my the own way of the talking Englees" which roughly translates to "It is my own way of speaking in English". Understandable. Analysing the structure of his sentences, his is closer to Samuel Johnson and to William Shakespeare than to modern day English writers and authorities.
A splendid case in study of Jeppiar's deviation from modern English usage will be evident from the following speech. Take a look.
Eg 1 : "Our University to educate for the student, not only syllabus first of all human value education"
Deviation: Verb missing. Full stop missing somewhere there.
Eg 2: "Sellabus only degree, but human value education there is no degree"
Deviation: Grave Pronounciation error. Verb missing in leading phrase. Improper combination of phrases.
Eg 3: "Future life is very peaceful life"
Deviation: Improper use of tenses
Eg 4: "Thats why in our University to introduce all student first of all smart and neat"
Deviation: Er... Improper everything.
Eg 5: "Almost all students, brotherhood important. Sister"
Deviation: Verb missing. Noun independently cannot form a sentence. Misuse of Almost.
Eg 6: "Among the brother of the sister, family life important"
Deviation: Verb Missing. Doesn't convey any sense.
Eg 7: "So that is called in Sathyabhama is the education temple but come to the university we take care the same manner of the father mother what is your father mother what today the same education in Sathyabhama"
Deviation: No English detected.
So, while the rest of the World may accuse Jeppiar of polluting the great language of English, he maintains that the new syntax characterised by total irreverence to the roles traditionally assumed by verbs, adjectives and nouns, will be the future of this language. So, dont be surprised if your grandsons grandson talks Jeppiarish English when you are watching him from heaven or hell or from a time machine or whatever. That'll be their language.
But then Jeppiar is not the only maverick who wishes to do things his own way. There are others who by virtue of their splendid communication skills redefine English everyday.
(To Be Continued...)
