Reviving Ancient Vocabulary: A Seance of Forgotten Words
From the richness of the English language, many archaic words have fallen into disuse, leaving us with a linguistic legacy ripe for revival. Let's explore some forgotten words and phrases from the Tudor era and beyond, including some of Shakespeare's favorite expletives, and discuss why we might want them back.
A Graze of Tudor Swearwords
The worms of the Tudor era left a distinct mark on the works of William Shakespeare and other contemporaries. These swearwords were not merely profane; they carried historical and cultural significance. Words like 'Zounds!'—a contraction of God’s wounds, 'Sblood!' a curtellation of God’s blood, and the beloved 'Gadzooks!'—God's nails—offered both expletive relief and respect for the divine.
Timeless Uses for Timeless Words
In addition to everyday uses, several old-fashioned words have made their way into contemporary vocabulary with new life. Words like cad (a politician who serves their own ends rather than the needs of their electorate) and strumpet (a disreputable female) have found their way into the lexicon, often with mock or archaic tones. For instance, one could say, 'The Chancellor is such a cad that even brazen strumpets give him a wide berth, your Majesty.'
Bring Back 'Secondth'
While many archaic words have been lost to the annals of time, some have managed to find a niche in specialized contexts. The word secondth, for instance, once in vogue from the 1150s to the 1500s, largely vanished in the 1500s-1650s. However, it still survives in contemporary usage, particularly in the context of media production and printing. Modern usage includes phrases like 'the thirty-secondth take,' which distinguishes it from 'the thirty-second take' in terms of sequence or order versus duration.
Clarifying Context
The use of 'secondth' serves to reduce confusion and convey the exact meaning intended. In film and television production lingo, specifying 'the 32ndth take' can quickly and unmistakably convey a particular sequence of takes, as opposed to a take of a sequence lasting 32 seconds. This distinction is vital in the fast-paced environment of audiovisual production, where precision is paramount.
The Relevance of Thou
The loss of the word 'thou' is a significant linguistic shift. 'Thou' and 'you' once distinguished between the second-person singular and plural, with 'you' being the formal and respectful form of address. This practice can be seen in many other languages, where the formality of address is maintained through different pronouns. However, the dissipation of 'thou' in English is a different story. Its complete replacement with 'you' represents a loss of linguistic nuance that could be salvaged through revival.
A Call for Linguistic Diversity
Consider the word 'varlet.' Derived from the French, 'varlet' carries a unique visual and auditory appeal. Words like 'Silence, varlet!' from the Ramona series by Beverly Cleary have embedded this word in popular culture and continue to captivate audiences. Reintroducing words like 'thou' and 'varlet' into modern language could enrich our vocabulary and add a unique flavor to our communication.
Bringing Words Back Into Use
The revival of archaic words is not merely a linguistic exercise; it is a celebration of our heritage and a way to enhance our linguistic palette. While some would argue that we are already overburdened with new words, others see the potential in reviving and reinterpreting old words. The example of ‘secondth’ shows how these words can be integrated into modern contexts, providing clarity and precision in specific fields.
In conclusion, the revival of archaic words holds the potential to introduce a fresh layer of nuance and depth into our language. From the exuberance of Tudor expletives to the precision of specialized terms, there is a wealth of linguistic treasures waiting to be unearthed and reintroduced.