187 episodes
The History of English Podcast Kevin Stroud
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- History
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4.8 • 802 Ratings
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A chronological history of the English language examined through the lens of historical events that shaped the development and spread of the language from the Eurasian steppe to the entire world.
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Episode 175: The English of Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is one of William Shakespeare’s most popular plays and one of the most popular plays ever written. In this episode, we examine the language of the play to see how it reflects the English of Elizabethan England, … Continue reading →
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Episode 174: Speak and Spell
English spelling largely reflects the state of the language in the late 1500s. In this episode, we look at one of the first English spelling books, and we explore several plays by William Shakespeare to examine the way he rhymed … Continue reading →
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Episode 173: Fooling Around
In this episode, we look at the development of English comedy in the early modern era. We examine some of William Shakespeare’s early comedies, and we also distinguish Shakespearean comedy from other types of comedic performances which had been popular … Continue reading →
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Episode 172: Succession
In this episode, we explore the concept of a successful succession. During the early 1590s, France was divided by a bitter conflict over the succession of Henry of Navarre to the French throne. Meanwhile, William Shakespeare wrote a couple of … Continue reading →
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Episode 171: Shakespeare’s English (featuring Ben Crystal)
In this episode, we turn our attention to the wordcraft of William Shakespeare. Today, many people have mixed opinions about his plays and poems. They know that he is widely regarded as the greatest English writer of all time, but … Continue reading →
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Episode 170: Printers, Plague and Poets
In this episode, we examine the connection between poetry and plague in the early 1590s. An outbreak of the recurring sickness contributed to Shakespeare’s early career as a poet, and that poetry likely included his many sonnets. We also examine … Continue reading →
Customer Reviews
What a find!
Such an interesting podcast. Kevin Stroud's voice and manner are also very soothing. Am just about to embark on the series for a second time!
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Excellent
Fabulous Podcast
An interesting podcast on the history of the English language starting from its earliest origins to what it has become today. I was initially put off by the American presenter simply because I was expecting a British accent, but I quickly overcame my prejudices and now consider this to be one of my favourite educational podcasts. Kevin Stroud, writer, producer and presenter of this podcast, has been exceptional in his research of the English language and has produced not just a fabulous podcast but a website as well, where you can find transcripts of each of the episodes. Clearly a lot of work and effort has gone into this.
I began listening by randomly diving into an episode but I am now starting from the very beginning. I’ve just finished Episode 2. I have 169 (and more!) to get through. Happy days!