What did English sound like 200 years ago? | | The English of 200 years ago would sound remarkably familiar to modern speakers. Let's explore how the American accent evolved and how things were different in the 1820s. | |  | Bennett Kleinman |
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| |  | | A lot has changed since 1824; back then, there were only 24 stars on the American flag, Beethoven had just debuted his Symphony No. 9, and people often spent their free time reading and gardening instead of watching "Love Island" and scrolling social media. But for all the differences, one thing has remained pretty stable over the past 200 years: how the English language sounds.
If you hopped in your hypothetical time machine, you might be shocked at how similar 200-year-old English sounds compared to now. By the 1820s, many English-speaking Americans had begun to drop the British accent that was more common in Colonial America during the 18th century, and American English was developing as distinct from the Queen's English. (If you went back 400 years, Shakespearean English would be much more difficult to understand.) An 1824 person would likely have no difficulty communicating with someone today, and vice versa. There are a few minor differences, of course, but overall it would be simple to parse the meaning of a sentence. |
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Emoji Decoded | |  | | Squid | | | Meaning: Depicts a squid with tentacles, not to be confused with the Octopus 🐙.
Evolution: While it initially represented the sea creature, this emoji gained new popularity after the 2021 viral hit of Netflix's "Squid Game." It was often paired with 🟥, 🔺, and 🔴, also from the show.
Usage: [Caption on a photo of a failed cooking attempt:] I need a few more arms to manage this recipe 🦑 |
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| | Squid | | | Meaning: Depicts a squid with tentacles, not to be confused with the Octopus 🐙.
Evolution: While it initially represented the sea creature, this emoji gained new popularity after the 2021 viral hit of Netflix's "Squid Game." It was often paired with 🟥, 🔺, and 🔴, also from the show.
Usage: [Caption on a photo of a failed cooking attempt:] I need a few more arms to manage this recipe 🦑 |
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Have you read? | |  | | A Star Is Reborn | | By Robert Hofler | | The 2018 movie "A Star Is Born" was a massive success, and the song "Shallow," performed by stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, became an instant classic. While the song was a new original, the film itself was a remake; in fact, it was at least the fourth film based on the same love story. In "A Star Is Reborn," a theater critic examines the history and cultural impact of the story's retellings since its first in 1937. This nonfiction book is recommended for those interested in pop culture history and what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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| | A Star Is Reborn | | By Robert Hofler | | The 2018 movie "A Star Is Born" was a massive success, and the song "Shallow," performed by stars Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, became an instant classic. While the song was a new original, the film itself was a remake; in fact, it was at least the fourth film based on the same love story. In "A Star Is Reborn," a theater critic examines the history and cultural impact of the story's retellings since its first in 1937. This nonfiction book is recommended for those interested in pop culture history and what happens behind the scenes in Hollywood. | | | | Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer | | | | We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. |
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You might also like | |  | | | | How Were Musical Instruments Named? | | Why is the English horn neither English nor a horn? And what does the violin have to do with joyful chanting? The names of orchestral instruments tell a fascinating story of language evolution. |
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