Shakespeare's Non-Standard English: A Dictionary of his Informal Language (Student Shakespeare Library)

Most scholarly attention on Shakespeare’s vocabulary has been directed towards his enrichment of the language through borrowing words from other languages and has thus concentrated on the more learned aspects of his vocabulary. However, the bulk of Shakespeare’s output consists of plays and to make these appear lifelike he needed to employ a colloquial and informal style. This aspect of his work has been largely disregarded apart from his bawdy language. This dictionary includes all types of non-standard and informal language and lists all examples found in Shakespeare’s works. These include dialect forms, colloquial forms, non-standard and variant forms, fashionable words and puns. Most scholarly attention on Shakespeare's vocabulary has been directed towards his enrichment of the language through borrowing words from other languages and has thus concentrated on the more learned aspects of his vocabulary. But the bulk of Shakespeare's output consists of plays in which he employs a colloquial and informal style using such features as discourse markers or phrasal verbs. Both today and in earlier periods many informal words were gradually accepted into the standard language, and it may be difficult to recognize when certain words have become acceptable. This dictionary includes all types of non-standard and informal language and lists all examples found in Shakespeare's works. These include dialect forms, colloquial forms, non-standard and variant forms, fashionalbe words and puns

most Scholarly Attention On Shakespeare's Vocabulary Has Been Directed Towards His Enrichment Of The Language Through Borrowing Words From Other Languages, And Has Thus Concentrated On The More Learned Aspects Of His Vocabulary. However, The Bulk Of Shakespeare's Output Consists Of Plays, And To Make These Appear Lifelike He Needed To Employ A Collquial And Informal Style. This Aspect Of His Work Has Been Largely Disregarded Apart From His Bawdy Language. This Dictionary Includes All Types Of Non-standard And Informal Language And Lists All Examples Found In Shakespeare's Works. These Include Dialect Form, Colloquial Forms, Non-standard And Variant Forms, Fashionable Words And Puns.

norman Blake Is Emeritus Professor Of English At Sheffield University.

This is a dictionary of non-standard and informal English words used by Shakespeare in his plays and poems