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Shakespeare's language

The History of English in 10 minutes - Chapter 3 (OU)
Shakespeare
CC BY-SA
Video: Open University

Comprehension

  1. When did Shakespeare live?
  2. How many words and phrases did William Shakespeare contribute to the English language?
  3. Which types of words and phrases come from Shakespeare? Give some examples.
  4. How many plays by Shakespeare can you name?

Discussion

  1. Why do you think English has retained so much of the vocabulary and expressions used in Shakespeare?
  2. To which extent do you think Shakespeare has influenced the English language and the spread of it?

Suggested Further Reading

  1. The Origins of the English Language
  2. Why So Much Variety in English?
CC BY-SAWritten by: Knut Inge Skifjeld and Eli Huseby.
Last revised date 11/26/2018

Learning content

English as a world language