187 episodes
The History of English Podcast Kevin Stroud
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- History
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4.8 • 11 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
Fantastic podcast
This is a very thorough and well-structured podcast. It's cleared up a lot of little questions that have long bugged me, like who the hell the Goths were, why on earth France is named after the Franks, and how come Beowulf is set in Denmark. It very well laid out and not to technical, so it's easy to keep track of what is what and who is who. Great work!
Good listen for the teacher or student of English
The podcast is a mix of the development of the English language and the concurring history of England. The speaker alternates between the two during each episode. The presentation has broadened my knowledge of how the language has developed. Thus, I can now, as an ESL teacher, better explain how the modern language works. The podcast has also filled in many gaps for me regarding the earlier history of England, which helps my understanding of the culture underlying the language.
Also, the speaker’s presentation is pleasant. One can sense his enjoyment of the subject matter by the tone of his voice. It is always a good listen.
I highly recommend this podcast, especially for a teacher or a student of the language.