[CHAPTER SEVEN]

Chapter 7: Early Modern English: 1500-1700

In England the Renaissance and Early Modern English began a little before 1500. The Renaissance is a time of freedom of ideas; for language that means freedom in creating and borrowing words. During the Renaissance, English continues to become more analytic. By 1700, the Great Vowel Shift is more or less complete and spelling relatively uniform; 1700 is therefore considered the end of this period even though that date, like 1500, is somewhat debatable.


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