[Multilingual Monday] Classicizing
I debated writing this up, but it's my last MM before vacation, and I'd love to get input here...
Today's topic is modern use of archaic language. In my experience archaic language is used to either set "fossilized phrases" -- this has been covered once here already, where a phrase is used that features grammar that has fallen on the wayside, but another use are individual words that give a much older tone. By this I mean, for example, the intentional use of "thou" and its derivatives that is seen in narratives and the like. Interestingly, people are unintentionally selective as to which "old elements" to use while "classicizing" their speech -- while the use of older pronouns (and their matching verb forms -- and even this isn't exactly consistent) may be used, other features of the language at that approximate time ("my" and "mine" being the same word, their use depending upon the following word starting with a vowel or consonant) is seldom, if ever, used while trying to classicize one's English. Sometimes inconsistencies lead to incorrect historical usage, and simple misinformation causes things like the "Ye Olde"to be seen in classicized English (even though that was never really a Y!!).
Many languages have parallel usages -- in Japanese period television shows and anime will frequently have characters using archaic pronouns (拙者, sessha, "I", which has become a samurai stereotype word), and one can step it up and use Sino-Japanese words that are interpreted as more humble (as a samurai would be to a master -- see 存知, zonji, in place of the pure Japanese 知る, shiru, "to know"). Certain words in "sourou" literary style can be used too -- 御座候, go-za-sourou, is "is", in place of the current de aru found in modern Japanese, featuring the archaic verb ending "sourou," being a literary equivalent to the current polite -masu stem. All of this gives a "pre-Meiji" feel.
Do you have other examples of archaic language usage? Do tell!
Today's topic is modern use of archaic language. In my experience archaic language is used to either set "fossilized phrases" -- this has been covered once here already, where a phrase is used that features grammar that has fallen on the wayside, but another use are individual words that give a much older tone. By this I mean, for example, the intentional use of "thou" and its derivatives that is seen in narratives and the like. Interestingly, people are unintentionally selective as to which "old elements" to use while "classicizing" their speech -- while the use of older pronouns (and their matching verb forms -- and even this isn't exactly consistent) may be used, other features of the language at that approximate time ("my" and "mine" being the same word, their use depending upon the following word starting with a vowel or consonant) is seldom, if ever, used while trying to classicize one's English. Sometimes inconsistencies lead to incorrect historical usage, and simple misinformation causes things like the "Ye Olde"to be seen in classicized English (even though that was never really a Y!!).
Many languages have parallel usages -- in Japanese period television shows and anime will frequently have characters using archaic pronouns (拙者, sessha, "I", which has become a samurai stereotype word), and one can step it up and use Sino-Japanese words that are interpreted as more humble (as a samurai would be to a master -- see 存知, zonji, in place of the pure Japanese 知る, shiru, "to know"). Certain words in "sourou" literary style can be used too -- 御座候, go-za-sourou, is "is", in place of the current de aru found in modern Japanese, featuring the archaic verb ending "sourou," being a literary equivalent to the current polite -masu stem. All of this gives a "pre-Meiji" feel.
Do you have other examples of archaic language usage? Do tell!