The Influence Of The Modern Period On The English Language

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Norris 1

Emily Norris
Mrs. Cercone
Eng 3U
February 19, 2013

The Influence of the Modern Period on the English Language

Over 1500 years, the English language has developed to be the most widespread form of sharing thoughts. With the invention of the printing press, to printing the Bible, to world renowned, writer, William Shakespeare, all happening during the modern period of time, it has greatly changed the most spoken language in the world. The Modern English period had the most influence on the English language.

In 1440, Johannes Gutenberg of Germany, invented the printing press which came to change literature and education drastically. Gutenberg created this tool so people could not only share their thoughts but be efficiently written on paper, for a long time. Literature is now never-ending and always replenishing itself so quickly. Johannes Gutenberg illustrates what he thought about the influence of the printing press on literature:

It is a press, certainly, but a press from which shall flow in enexhaustible streams...Through it,
God will spread His Word. A spring of truth shall flow from it: like a new star it shall scatter the darkness of ignorance, and cause a light heretofore unknown to shine amongst men. (Johannes
Gutenberg, Quotable Quote, goodreads.com

The printing press allows literature to be produced, recreated and to be changed just as language evolved in the Modern Period. Gutenberg's invention has forever changed and influenced the English language.

The book that has influenced the English language the most is the Bible and a lot of English has originated from God's Word. The Bible's influence is not limited to those who are Christians, but to more than half of the world's population, has quoted, studied or read from it. The first books to ever be printed were Gutenberg's Bible's, which were in German. The first Holy Scriptures were only to be written in the Latin Language and it was forbidden to translate them. Though, Myles Coverdale produced and printed the first fully English Bible. Since then many people translated the Bible into many languages so God's Word may be spread all over the world. The Bible has become a household name and is a very important piece of literature around the world. “The Bible is the bestselling book in the world and has influenced not only Western literature, art, music and culture but also the English language. Many of the words and phrases in use today have their origins in the Bible” (Kimberly Ward, How The Bible Changed The English Language, suite101.com) The Bible connects many languages and greatly popularized and evolved the English language. The sacred text can arguably be the most influential book for the English language.

Shakespeare is one of the most important figures in the English language. William Shakespeare helped the development of the English language and is one the world's greatest writers. This famous Englishman created and used words in ways no one had ever recorded before him. “Shakespeare was acutely aware of the way the Early Modern English language that he grew up with was changing and it is yet another way that he was able to create the levels
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