In Middle English and Early Modern English one could choose either You or Thou (and their respective variants see Simpson et al. 2005: entry Thou, pers., pron., 2nd sing.). Either choice carried a number of implications, depending on the period of time in the language (Barber 1976:204-210). This system, which exists in many (but predominately European) countries is generally referred to as the T/V distinction.
Although similar to the German T/V distinction (Blake 1983:6), there is a phenomenon in Early Modern English, particularly in Shakespeare’s plays, which sets the You/Thou distinction apart. Whereas in German, French or Italian, it would be very rare and even rude to switch back and forth from T to V or the other way around, this must have happened quite frequently in Early Modern English dialogues (Brown and Gilman 1960:274-275). Eventually, of course, the use of Thou declined leaving the English language with only one second person pronoun, serving all cases without alteration (except possessive Yours and determiner Your) and both singular and plural (Görlach 1991:85).
A speaker of Early Modern English consequently had not only the option of choosing T or V once, he or she could also switch within a conversation, sometimes within a single utterance. The choice then would carry certain implications, about the emotions of the speaker, about his fondness or dislike of the addressee, or about the social ranks of both addresser and addressee. As a result, choosing the pronoun became a tool in dialogues that could be used to acknowledge or insult.
The T/V distinction will be discussed, its appearance in Early Modern English and particularly Shakespeare’s language. Then, in order to attain an achievable amount of research for a paper of this size, one of Shakespeare’s plays will be regarded with some detail. The choice fell on King Lear...
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Shakespearean drama as a source for linguistic studies
2. You and Thou in context
2.1. The pronoun system in Early Modern English
2.2. The T/V distinction
2.3. Brown and Gilman’s model: power and solidarity make the T/V choice
2.4. Thou and You in Shakespeare’s English
2.5. The disappearance of Thou
3. The importance of You and Thou in Shakespeare’s King Lear
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Topics
This paper investigates the sociolinguistic significance of the second person pronouns "You" and "Thou" within Early Modern English, specifically focusing on how William Shakespeare utilized these variations to define character dynamics, emotional states, and social power structures in his tragedy, King Lear.
- The historical evolution of the English second-person pronoun system.
- Application of the Brown and Gilman "power and solidarity" model to dramatic dialogue.
- Analysis of "expressive" pronoun usage as a tool for indicating intimacy, anger, or social hierarchy.
- The linguistic transition from a distinction-heavy system to the dominance of "You".
- Correlation between pronoun choice and the play's central theme of "appearance vs. reality".
Excerpt from the Book
The importance of You and Thou in Shakespeare’s King Lear
There is still some research necessary in the field of the use of the second person singular pronouns in Early Modern English. However, we do have a considerable amount of information available on the topic, enough to attempt to gather information on character, emotion and possible implications from occurrences of You and Thou. A number of excerpts taken from King Lear will be analysed in order to observe in how far Shakespeare made use of the connotations of both words. The distribution very much complies with the norms discussed above, predominantly in terms of the power semantic, but also in a number of cases in terms of the solidarity semantic. What is more interesting to investigate and usually leads to more insight is the expressive use which will be focused on here.
It is noticeable that some characters make more use of expressive meanings of You and Thou than others. The Earl of Kent presents a good example. He is an incredibly devoted follower of King Lear, staying with him till the end even though he was banished. Yet, when Lear explains his plans to divide the kingdom, quarrels with Cordelia, Kent, after having tried to be polite and having been interrupted by Lear twice, says:
[...] What wouldst thou do, old man? / Think’st thou that duty shall have dread to speak, / When power to flattery bows? [...] Reverse thy doom; / And, in thy best consideration, check / This hideous rashness. (KL, I. 1. 148, my italics)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the linguistic problem of second-person pronoun selection in Early Modern English and establishes the scope of the study centered on Shakespeare's King Lear.
1.1. Shakespearean drama as a source for linguistic studies: The section justifies the use of dramatic texts as a primary data source for colloquial Early Modern English, comparing them against legal court records.
2. You and Thou in context: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation for understanding the Early Modern English pronoun system and the historical shift toward the T/V distinction.
2.1. The pronoun system in Early Modern English: An overview of the morphological and usage changes of English pronouns from the Middle English period up to 1700.
2.2. The T/V distinction: Explains the historical development of polite versus familiar pronoun usage, often tied to social rank and power.
2.3. Brown and Gilman’s model: power and solidarity make the T/V choice: Introduces the influential academic model that categorizes pronoun choice based on interpersonal social power and levels of solidarity.
2.4. Thou and You in Shakespeare’s English: Details the specific nuances of Shakespearean usage, highlighting the "expressive" dimension beyond simple politeness.
2.5. The disappearance of Thou: Analyzes the eventual obsolescence of "Thou" and explains this change through socio-historical and linguistic factors such as semantic broadening.
3. The importance of You and Thou in Shakespeare’s King Lear: This chapter applies the previously discussed linguistic theories to analyze character interactions and thematic depth within the specific play.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes findings regarding the skillful usage of pronoun shifts to characterize emotional states and instructs the audience in interpreting dramatic cues.
Keywords
Early Modern English, Shakespeare, King Lear, Second Person Pronoun, You, Thou, T/V Distinction, Power Semantic, Solidarity Semantic, Politeness, Sociolinguistics, Markedness, Semantic Change, Dramatic Language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how the choice between the second-person pronouns "You" and "Thou" in Early Modern English was used by William Shakespeare as a sophisticated tool to convey social rank, emotional shifts, and character relationships in King Lear.
Which theoretical models are used to analyze the pronouns?
The primary theoretical framework utilized is the "power and solidarity" model developed by Brown and Gilman, alongside studies on "markedness" and politeness theory by scholars like Barber and Hope.
What does the term "T/V distinction" imply in this context?
It refers to the system where one language utilizes two different forms of address (like "Thou" vs. "You" in English, or "Du" vs. "Sie" in German) to signal either familiar/intimate or polite/formal social distance.
Why was Shakespeare's drama considered a reliable source for linguistic study?
The author argues that while court records offer more literal speech, Shakespeare's dramas provide a superior "mixture of traditional and innovative language patterns" that capture the variety of social registers required for this specific analysis.
How is the "expressive use" of pronouns defined in the study?
Expressive use refers to moments where characters deliberately deviate from standard or expected pronoun usage—such as using a familiar "Thou" to an superior—to signal intense emotions like anger, deep affection, or defiance.
What happens to the pronoun "Thou" throughout the analyzed period?
The paper traces the gradual decline of "Thou," explaining its eventual obsolescence as a reaction against religious radicalism, a desire for "safe" polite speech, and the general tendency toward semantic broadening of the pronoun "You."
How does the Earl of Kent demonstrate the use of pronouns in King Lear?
Kent acts as a case study for "expressive" use; his switch to "Thou" when addressing King Lear highlights his deep emotional frustration and his willingness to defy the social power hierarchy for the sake of truth.
How does the usage of pronouns relate to the theme of "appearance vs. reality" in the play?
The paper suggests that characters who prioritize polite, distant language (the "You" form) are often those who are deceitful, whereas the use of "Thou" frequently signals more authentic, raw emotions or the underlying truth of a character's state of mind.
- Quote paper
- Martin Villwock (Author), 2005, 'I’ll tell thee thou dost evil', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/81419
