Quote:
Originally Posted by SameOldStory
I'm more likely to use s/he (she or he), but I think that "they" is acceptable nowadays.
"English" is a boiling caldron of many languages. I recall reading, somewhere, that Spanish readers can still read El ingenioso hidalgo don Quijote de la Mancha (15th century) or El Cantar de Mío Cid (12th century).
Anyone want to try 14th Century English? In modern type it's do-able, but in the script of the time I think very few would be able to read it.
"& he openynge his mowthe techinge hem, seyenge, Blessyd be pore in speryte, for here is the rewme of heuenes. Blessyd be the mylde, for thei schal haue the lond of lyf. Blessyd be thei that waylen, for thei schal be comfortyd. Blessyd be thei that hungren and thrusten ryghtwysnys, for thei schal be fulfyllyd. Blessyd be mercyful men, for thei schal swe mercy. Blessyd be men of clene herte, for thei schal se God. Blessyd be pesyble men, for thei schal be cleped Godes chyldren...." |
English has, however, gone through very few
grammar changes since the 14th century (although there have been a few - eg Shakespeare wouldn't have known what the continuous present was). The above is hard for us to read primarily because it dates from before the introduction of Chancery Standard English in the mid 15th century, which set a standard for English usage and spelling.