The Allusionist 17. Fix part I
Aug 28, 2015
Liv Walsh, a scholar of linguistic purism, and Thomas Godard, a historian of linguistic ideas, explore attempts to 'fix' English. They trace 18th-century plans for an English academy, Latin-based grammar rules like the split infinitive myth, printing and borrowing's role in standardization, and French anxieties about anglicisms. Short, lively takes on language control versus natural change.
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18th-Century Panic Over English
- 17th–18th century writers felt English was chaotic due to many borrowings and inconsistent spelling.
- They sought to 'ascertain' the language and impose order akin to Latin or French practices.
Swift’s Proposal And The French Model
- Jonathan Swift proposed an 'Academy' to correct and improve English in 1712, echoing Académie Française ideas.
- The Académie Française itself dates to 1635 and served as a model for language regulation.
Academies Serve Elite And Nation-Building
- Language academies often represented elite dialects and aimed to preserve a 'pure' language for high-status speakers.
- Political projects (like French nation-building) used standard language to unify populations via education and punishment of dialects.
