English 500 years ago

[Cliffy]

This Is What English Actually Sounded Like 500 Years Ago

It’s interesting how movies make you believe that if you time travel to the middle ages you’ll understand people perfectly. But is it true? Would you really understand an Englishman from the 16th century? Hear for yourself in the video below where a 500-year-old poem is read aloud.

 

[Danbones]

Was there not some dispute about what is written "eth" actually being pronounced "es" as the suffix is now spelled?

 

[Blackleaf]

Sounds like a foreign language.

The only issue with it is the accent. Nobody is too sure what English accents were like then. Many historians believe that the Elizabethans - or some of them - had accents similar to an American accent today. In fact, the American accent may be derived from it.

 

[Cliffy]

Sounds like a foreign language.

The only issue with it is the accent. Nobody is too sure what English accents were like then. Many historians believe that the Elizabethans - or some of them - had accents similar to an American accent today. In fact, the American accent may be derived from it.

You obviously haven't been to the US. They have as many accent variations as the Brits do.

 

[taxslave]

I can't understand modern day brits.

 

[Cliffy]

I can't understand modern day brits.

It's the in breeding.

 

[bobnoorduyn]

Thought this was kinda neat

 

[Blackleaf]

You obviously haven't been to the US. They have as many accent variations as the Brits do.

They have fairly different accents but they aren't as different and varied as they are in the UK. By and large, all American accents sound quite similar to each other.

 

[Curious Cdn]

I can't understand modern day brits.

Trust me. Most if them are babbling incoherently, anyway.

 

[Blackleaf]