Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface: points of departure
- Introduction An uncommon tradition
- Part I The emergent commonalty
- 1 What came before: antecedent structures and emergent themes
- 2 The formation of a constitutional landscape, c.1159–1327
- 3 The power of a common language
- Part II Accumulating a tradition: popular resistance and rebellion, 1327–1549
- Part III The English explosion
- Part IV The empowered community
- Index
- References
3 - The power of a common language
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface: points of departure
- Introduction An uncommon tradition
- Part I The emergent commonalty
- 1 What came before: antecedent structures and emergent themes
- 2 The formation of a constitutional landscape, c.1159–1327
- 3 The power of a common language
- Part II Accumulating a tradition: popular resistance and rebellion, 1327–1549
- Part III The English explosion
- Part IV The empowered community
- Index
- References
Summary
Let us consider the false appearances that are imposed upon us by words, which are framed and applied according to the conceit and capacities of the vulgar sort: and although we think we govern our words and prescribe their meanings, and prescribe it well loquendum ut vulgus, sentiendum ut sapientes; yet certain it is that words, as a Tartar's bow, do shoot back upon the understanding of the wisest, and mightily entangle and pervert the judgement. So as it is almost necessary in all controversies and disputations to imitate the wisdom of the mathematicians, in setting down in the very beginning the definitions of our words and terms, that others may know how we accept and understand them, and whether they concur with us or no.
Empires are, first and foremost, cultural entities; and it's language that does the job, not legions.
Vernacular populism to c.1400
In Inglysch toung I sall you telle…
For that es oure kynde langage
That we have here maste of usage…
Som canne Frankes and na Latin
That have used courte and dwelled ther-in,
And som canne o Latyn a perty
That canne Frankes bot febely
And some understandes in Inglysce
That canne nother Latyn na Frankes…
Bot ler[n]ed and lewed, alde and yonnge
All understande Inglysche tonng.
(c.1350)The linguistic conjuncture of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries is different from anything earlier: the rise of ‘Middle’ English (c.1300–1526) is blessed with a growing abundance of textual sources.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- A Commonwealth of the PeoplePopular Politics and England's Long Social Revolution, 1066–1649, pp. 119 - 202Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010
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