Influential Words In 2009, The American Dialect Society deemed “tweet” the word of the year. In 2010 it was “app”. One of the frontrunners for this year is the word “occupy” because of the all the protests happening around Wall Street, as well as other financial districts in major cities around the world. Early this year, Charlie Sheen’s “winning” had received some major support, but has recently lost some of its edge. Make a list of 5 words that you believe should be “Word of the Year” for you. Maybe you feel that they apply to the whole country, maybe to your school, or perhaps just amongst your family or friends. For each of the five words, explain what it means, and why it has come to be such an important word to you.

Influence of Shakespeare’s Writing on the English Language by Daren Wilkerson

Shakespeare: The Man! Born in Stratford-upon- Avon, Warwickshire, England in 1564—Died in 1616 Born in Stratford-upon- Avon, Warwickshire, England in 1564—Died in 1616 Was an actor, writer, director, and producer. Was an actor, writer, director, and producer. Wrote 40 plays, 154 sonnets, and numerous other poems. Wrote 40 plays, 154 sonnets, and numerous other poems.(

Shakespeare’s Plays 14 Comedies (e.g., A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice). 14 Comedies (e.g., A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, Twelfth Night, The Tempest, The Merchant of Venice). 11 Tragedies (e.g., Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Othello) 11 Tragedies (e.g., Macbeth, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Othello) 15 Histories (e.g., Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV, King John) 15 Histories (e.g., Richard II, Richard III, Henry IV, King John) (The Library Shakespeare)

Shakespeare’s Words Shakespeare’s plays and poems hold evidence that he may have introduced into the English language as many as 2,000 words! (Clayborrne, Anna and Rebecca Treays)

Examples of Words and Phrases Coined by “The Bard” leapfrog, dwindle, countless, fretful, barefaced, lonely, accommodation, dislocate, indistinguishable, premeditated, reliance, submerged, assassination, critical, emphasis, antipathy, vast, prodigious, obscene, initiate, demonstrate, dire, emulate, horrid, meditate, modest “To be or not to be” “Method to the madness” “Cruel to be kind” “The world’s your oyster” (McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil; Claybourne, Anna and Rebecca Treays)

“On Quoting Shakespeare” by Bernard Levin If you cannot understand my argument and declare "it's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare. If you claim to be "more sinned against than sinning", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you “recall your salad days”, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act "more in sorrow than in anger", if your "wish is father to the thought", if your lost property has "vanished into thin air", you are quoting Shakespeare. If you have ever refused "to budge an inch" or suffered from "green-eyed jealousy", if you have "played fast and loose", if you have been "tongue-tied" - "a tower of strength" - "hoodwinked" or "in a pickle", if you have "knitted your brows" - "made virtue of necessity", insisted on "fair play" - "slept not one wink" - "stood on ceremony" - "danced attendance" (on your lord and master),"laughed yourself into stitches", had "short shrift" - "cold comfort", or "too much of a good thing", if you have "seen better days", or lived "in a fool’s paradise", why, be that as it may, "the more fool you", for it is a "foregone Conclusion" that you are "as good luck would have it", quoting Shakespeare. If you cannot understand my argument and declare "it's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare. If you claim to be "more sinned against than sinning", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you “recall your salad days”, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act "more in sorrow than in anger", if your "wish is father to the thought", if your lost property has "vanished into thin air", you are quoting Shakespeare. If you have ever refused "to budge an inch" or suffered from "green-eyed jealousy", if you have "played fast and loose", if you have been "tongue-tied" - "a tower of strength" - "hoodwinked" or "in a pickle", if you have "knitted your brows" - "made virtue of necessity", insisted on "fair play" - "slept not one wink" - "stood on ceremony" - "danced attendance" (on your lord and master),"laughed yourself into stitches", had "short shrift" - "cold comfort", or "too much of a good thing", if you have "seen better days", or lived "in a fool’s paradise", why, be that as it may, "the more fool you", for it is a "foregone Conclusion" that you are "as good luck would have it", quoting Shakespeare.

If you think “it is early days” and “clear out bag and baggage”, if you think "it is high time", and that "that is the long and the short of it", if you believe that "the game is up", and that “the truth will out", even if involves your "own flesh and blood", if you "lie low" till "the crack of doom" because you suspect "foul play", if you have "teeth set on edge” (at one fell swoop) - "without rhyme or reason", then "to give the devil his due" if the "truth were known" for surely you have a "tongue in your head", you are quoting Shakespeare. Even if you bid me "good riddance" and "send me packing", if you wish I was "dead as a doornail", if you think I am an "eyesore" - a "laughing stock" - the "devil incarnate" - "a stony-hearted villain" - "bloody-minded", or a "blinking idiot", then "by Jove" - "o Lord"- "Tut, tut!" - "For goodness sake" - "what the dickens!" - "but me no buts" - "it is all one to me", for you are quoting Shakespeare... (Levin, Bernard)

Standardization of the Language The popularity and amount of his work, combined with the recent advent of the printing press, helped to standardize the English language. (McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil)

Shakespeare’s Theaters “The Theatre” was a theater used until 1599, and was then torn down and moved across the Thames, where it was renamed “The Globe”. It burned down and was rebuilt in 1613, but was torn apart by Puritans in A replica was erected in London in “The Theatre” was a theater used until 1599, and was then torn down and moved across the Thames, where it was renamed “The Globe”. It burned down and was rebuilt in 1613, but was torn apart by Puritans in A replica was erected in London in (Claybourne, Anna and Rebecca Treays)

No Roles for Women? In Shakespeare’s day, acting was considered a “low” occupation, so women were not allowed on-stage. This didn’t stop Shakespeare from writing female characters, though. So the female parts were usually given to young men, who would occasionally use “high” voices. In Shakespeare’s day, acting was considered a “low” occupation, so women were not allowed on-stage. This didn’t stop Shakespeare from writing female characters, though. So the female parts were usually given to young men, who would occasionally use “high” voices. Claybourne, Anna and Rebecca Treays)

A Man of the People! Many people, from all walks of life attended his plays. The poor people stood on the ground in front of the stage, and were known as “groundlings”. But middle class people, and even royalty attended his plays. He occasionally performed certain plays privately for Queen Elizabeth, and later King James! (Claybourne, Anna and Rebecca Treays)

Knowing his Audience! Sometimes, in a piece of dialogue, he would write two different lines back to back with the same meaning—one for the well-educated, and one for the poor people down front: Here’s an example from Macbeth: Here’s an example from Macbeth: “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine, Making the green one red.” “The multitudinous seas incarnadine” is a Latinate phrase, and “Making the green one red” is a plain Anglo-Saxon phrase, though both express the same idea, that the blood from Macbeth’s hand will make the water turn red with blood. This way, everyone’s happy! (McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil)

Hmmm... He looks dead, but I better take him to a doctor, just to make sure. Found another one, sir. Do you think this one’s dead, too?

Works Cited Clayborn, Anna, and Rebecca Treays. The World of Shakespeare. London: Usborne Publishing Clayborn, Anna, and Rebecca Treays. The World of Shakespeare. London: Usborne Publishing Levin, Bernard. “On Quoting Shakespeare”. Levin, Bernard. “On Quoting Shakespeare”. McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil. The Story of English. New York: Viking Penguin Inc McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil. The Story of English. New York: Viking Penguin Inc Shakespeare, William. The Library Shakespeare. Illus. Sir John Gilbert, George Cruikshank, and R. Dudley. London: Trident Press Int Shakespeare, William. The Library Shakespeare. Illus. Sir John Gilbert, George Cruikshank, and R. Dudley. London: Trident Press Int Wikipedia. “William Shakespeare” May 15, Wikipedia. “William Shakespeare” May 15,