For creative endeavors, be it writing fantasy novels or crafting historical fiction, the desire to imbue characters with the archaic charm of “thee,” “thou,” and “shalt” often arises. This guide will explore the nuances of these words, clarifying their proper usage and historical context.
It’s important to understand that the language commonly referred to as “Olde English” is a misnomer. The language being imitated is actually Early Modern English, the language of the King James Bible, Shakespeare, and Milton. Even then, the modern interpretation is often inaccurate. Consider this excerpt from Milton’s Paradise Lost:
So spake th’ Apostate Angel, though in pain, Vaunting aloud, but rackt with deep despare: And him thus answer’d soon his bold Compeer
And this from the original King James Bible:
And the earth brought foorth grasse, and herbe yeelding seed after his kinde, and the tree yeelding fruit, whose seed was in it selfe, after his kinde: and God saw that it was good. (Gen. 1:12)
While updating the spelling brings it closer to modern English, its structure and punctuation still differ significantly from contemporary language.
Despite its fabricated nature, the individual words associated with “Olde English” did exist and adhere to specific grammatical rules.
Thou vs. Thee: Subject and Object Pronouns
The words thou and thee cannot be used interchangeably. Thou functions as the subject of a sentence, similar to I, we, and they. Conversely, thee serves as the object, akin to me, us, and them.
- Thou art wise. (correct)
- I give thee this gift. (correct)
Similarly, thy mirrors the usage of thou and should not be used in place of thee.
- Thy kingdom come. (correct)
- I bequeath this to thy children. (incorrect)
The variations thyn (Old English), thyne (Middle English), and thine (modern spelling) all translate to “your.”
- To thine own self be true. (correct)
- Thine is the glory. (correct)
- I saw thine demise. (incorrect)
Verb Conjugations in Old English
Early English exhibits unique verb endings. Examples include shalt, giveth, doth, dost, and art.
In the early centuries of the English language, spelling conventions were fluid. English is a composite language drawing from Latin, Greek, German, French, Spanish, and Yiddish.
These varied verb endings do not alter the core meaning of the verb. For example, shalt and shall share the same meaning. The key distinction lies in tense. Shalt denotes future tense, while giveth, doth, dost, and art indicate present tense. Thus, the line from The Avengers, “Doth Mother know you weareth her drapes?” demonstrates correct usage.
Unto: A Simple Preposition
The term unto simply means “to.” The familiar phrase “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” illustrates this point.
Belov’d vs. Beloved: Poetic Meter
The distinction between belov’d and beloved primarily applies in poetry, particularly when considering poetic meter. The apostrophe serves as a pronunciation guide. Belov’d has two syllables (be-loved), while beloved traditionally had three syllables (be-lov-ed). This example from Shakespeare’s Hamlet demonstrates the point:
’tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish’d. To die, to sleep; (Hamlet 3.1)
The “wish’d” is used to maintain the iambic pentameter (five iambs of unstressed/stressed syllables): deVOUTly TO be WISH’D. to DIE, to SLEEP
Since the “ed” ending is no longer pronounced as a separate syllable, “wish’d” is not needed in modern poetry.
Ye vs. The: A Victorian Misinterpretation
While ye was a common substitute for you (both as subject and object), it was never intended to represent the. This misunderstanding arose during the Victorian era, resulting in signs like “Ye Olde-Timey Inn.”
An old sign written as "Ye Olde Bake Shoppe"
The confusion stems from the thorn, a letter represented by the symbol þ in Old English, Old Norse, Gothic, and Icelandic, and representing the “th” sound. In old texts, þ Old Inn simply meant The Old Inn. However, Victorians misinterpreted the thorn as the letter “Y,” leading to the incorrect usage of Ye.
Therefore, while the goods sold at “Ye Olde Bake Shoppe” may be authentic, the sign itself is a product of Victorian-era misunderstanding.
Conclusion
While recreating Early Modern English requires more than simply sprinkling in “thee” and “thou,” understanding the grammatical rules and historical context can help you achieve a more authentic and effective portrayal of characters speaking in this archaic style. Remember to focus on accuracy and avoid perpetuating common misconceptions about “Olde English.”
