Claim OwnershipThe History of English Podcast
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A chronological history of the English language examined through the lens of historical events that shaped the development and spread of the language from the Eurasian steppe to the entire world.
188 Episodes
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1Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays and one of the most popular plays ever written. In this episode, we examine the language of the play to see how it reflects the English of Elizabethan England, … Continue reading →
English spelling largely reflects the state of the language in the late 1500s. In this episode, we look at one of the first English spelling books, and we explore several plays by William Shakespeare to examine the way he rhymed … Continue reading →
In this episode, we look at the development of English comedy in the early modern era. We examine some of William Shakespeare’s early comedies, and we also distinguish Shakespearean comedy from other types of comedic performances which had been popular … Continue reading →
In this episode, we explore the concept of a successful succession. During the early 1590s, France was divided by a bitter conflict over the succession of Henry of Navarre to the French throne. Meanwhile, William Shakespeare wrote a couple of … Continue reading →
In this episode, we turn our attention to the wordcraft of William Shakespeare. Today, many people have mixed opinions about his plays and poems. They know that he is widely regarded as the greatest English writer of all time, but … Continue reading →
In this episode, we examine the connection between poetry and plague in the early 1590s. An outbreak of the recurring sickness contributed to Shakespeare’s early career as a poet, and that poetry likely included his many sonnets. We also examine … Continue reading →
William Shakespeare is widely considered to be the most important writer in the history of the English language, but relatively little is known about his personal life. The desire to know more about the ‘Bard of Avon’ has led to … Continue reading →
In this episode, we explore the Elizabethan fascination with witchcraft and mysterious creatures like fairies and demons. Those subjects feature prominently in the literature of the period, and they reveal a lot about the world view of the people who … Continue reading →
All languages have their own rhythm and cadence, and English is no exception. That rhythm has actually shaped the language over time. It contributed to the structure of English poetry, and during the Elizabethan period, it shaped the way drama … Continue reading →
In this episode from the Patreon archives, we examine the accent used by actors and actresses in very old movies. We look at the origin of that accent and examine why it was adopted by the film industry in the … Continue reading →
In 1588, the Spanish Armada set sail for England in an attempt to depose Elizabeth I and replace her with a Spanish princess. In this episode, we examine how the English victory secured the status of English within the Church … Continue reading →
William Bullokar composed the first formal grammar of the English language in 1586. Prior to that point, the concept of grammar had been largely restricted to Latin. Bullokar’s work extended the concept to English, but it did so by employing … Continue reading →
Throughout her long reign, Queen Elizabeth I was faced with many difficult decisions, and she often chose a middle path when she could. In this episode, we explore the middle paths taken during her reign, and the consequences of those … Continue reading →
By the second half of the Elizabethan period, the perception of English had changed significantly in England. It was increasingly perceived as a sophisticated language capable of matching the refinement of other European languages. One of the language’s most vocal … Continue reading →
In the 1570s, Francis Drake plundered Spanish ships throughout the New World with the private permission of Elizabeth I. His actions marked the first direct challenge to Spanish naval supremacy in the region, and also marked the beginning the English … Continue reading →
In this episode, we explore the complicated history of the letters Y, U and I, and we examine how they gave birth to the letters W, V and J. We also look at the Gothic script of the Middle Ages … Continue reading →
In this episode, we explore the sounds represented by the letters L and R. Linguists refer to these sounds as ‘approximants,’ and they are some of the most challenging sounds in the English language. They are consonants with vowel-like qualities. … Continue reading →
In 1569, an English scholar named John Hart published a manuscript called ‘An Orthographie.’ The text argued for a phonetic spelling system, and it provided one of the earliest detailed descriptions of the sounds of English. In this episode, we … Continue reading →
In the mid-1500s, England attempted to expand its influence in Ireland by establishing plantations there. This same process would soon be applied to North America. In this episode, we explore those early attempts at Irish colonization and England’s first encounters … Continue reading →
During the first decade of the reign of Elizabeth I, Protestants in Scotland and the Netherlands rebelled against the Catholic authorities who controlled those countries. Those rebellions were supported by England, and eventually Scotland and the Netherlands joined England as … Continue reading →
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I love your podcast😍😍
ankle and angle don't have long vowels. I think getting confused by american pronunciation and the /n/ shifting vowel.
I appreciate the effort along with the research that has gone into producing this podcast. well done Sir! @englishhistpod
This is so interesting.
A lot of really cool etimology and history in one episode!
I'm finding this podcast really interesting. However, there is one major aspect that I just don't understand (or maybe the answer will be revealed in a later episode). My point is, if the Indo-Europeans had no written language and there was no recorded sound how on earth do we know what the original language sounded like and how do we even know what the original words were?
As far as I remember from German class, the noun itself didn't change based on its position in a sentence. The article (a/an/the) changed. the noun itself only changed if it was singular or plural.
I've listened to this podcast from beginning to its latest post and had to begin again. It makes me wish I was a younger man or had the time or opportunity to persue more academic interest than turning wrenches. Oh well, thank the Lord for the internet. All of mankind's collective knowledge in our pockets.
I love this podcast! It's so full of history as well as word etymology, and the Kevin is so passionate about the topic and it shows. This is by far my favorite podcast to nerd out to. The host also publishes bonus episodes on Patreon.
Another good one on Beowulf.
A good episode on Beowulf.
One of the best Podcast on the history of english language and it's origin. How we are interconnected via our speaking language over space and time.
Interesting ep. I'd always assumed it was just short for buoyant and Americans were silly.
Can't believe this stuff is free. Great podcast.
I recognize my adolescent sense of humor here but I am laughing to myself everytime I hear Mr. Stroud saying THE mother of bad words here...another great show!
The best podcast I have ever listened to
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I'm not so sure about the cultural implications of words like "take - give" or "host - guest". It's actually quite common for languages, including English, to have one word that has two opposite meanings, no cultural implications needed. Such as "cleave" meaning to cleave to, or to cleave apart. Or a certain tribal language in the Amazon whose word "kama" means either to come or to go.
an absolutely amazing podcast!