English is Still Changing!

I found this tweet this morning, and it made me realize: English is still a dynamic language and is changing/growing in vocabulary year by year.

What WOULD Shakespeare be thinking if he were around today? Would he really be crying? Do you guys think that the English language is becoming corrupted in our modern world? Or is it a good thing that we are adding such words to the dictionary?

Shakespearean March Madness

I have caught the March Madness bug (which is easy to do with Jimmer still around), and watched a lot of basketball today. I just randomly found this blog, where the author pits certain Shakespearean characters against each other and is asking us to vote for the winner. He has the showdowns set up in a bracket format (just like college basketball), and we can be a part of the madness!

If you love Shakespeare, his characters, the month of March, college basketball--or if you are just plain bored--check out the blog and toss your vote in!

Jaded

I have been researching Shakespeare's words, their origins, and how he has contributed to the English vocabulary. I came across a website full of words that Shakespeare "invented," and I was curious to investigate a little bit. So, I picked a word I was interested in--JADED--that was supposedly attributed to Shakespeare, and I looked into it a little bit.

I couldn't find anything about Shakespeare introducing that word, but I did learn about its origins a little bit. It was originally defined as "worn out, weary from overuse," and usually was applied to an old horse. Since then, it has become a more general term for anybody who is tired of something about life, who has been there, seen this, and done that. I think it's used quite a bit in modern conversation. In fact, one of my favorite bands has a song with the title:

Jaded lyrics (Aerosmith)

Hey j-j-jaded, you got your mama's style
But you're yesterday's child to me
So jaded
You think that's where it's at
But is that where it's supposed to be
You're gettin' it all over me X-Rated

My my baby blue
Yeah I been thinkin' about you
My my baby blue
Yeah you're so jaded
And I'm the one that jaded you

Hey j-j-jaded
In all it's misery
It will always be what I love and hated
And maybe take a ride to the other side
We're thinkin' of
We'll slip into the velvet glove
And be jaded

My my baby blue
Yeah I'm thinkin about you
My my baby blue
Yeah I'm so jaded
And baby I'm afraid of you

Your thinking's so complicated
I've had it all up to here
But it's so overrated
Love and hated
Wouldn't trade it
Love me jaded

Hey j-j-jaded
There ain't no baby please
When I'm shootin the breeze with her
When everything you see is a blur
And ectasy's what you prefer

My my baby blue
Yeah I'm talkin' about you
My my baby blue
Yeah I've been thinkin' about you
My my baby blue
Yeah you're so jaded
Baby
Jaded
Baby
You're so jaded
'Cause I'm the one that jaded you

I'm looking for more words to investigate; if any of you can attribute jaded to being Shakespeare's original word, let me know!

Word to the Man for his Words

For the remainder of the semester, I am focusing my studies and research upon the words of Shakespeare: which words he introduced into the English language, how he has been involved in the history of the English language, and how his words/phrases/contributions are still in effect today. The above image is a small sample of some words we can thank William for.

According to Boris Ford, the author of The Age of Shakespeare: "Before the arrival of Shakespeare to London, there was little hope for the future of English but by 1613, when Shakespeare's last work was written, the literature of modern English was already rich in varied achievements, self confident and mature." I am going to investigate how this was the case, try to debunk any myths regarding Shakespeare's contribution to words or phrases, and share all I learn.