Why do some people speak in an at least 700-year-old version of the English language?
-
Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.
-
CF has always been a site that welcomes people from different backgrounds and beliefs to participate in discussion and even debate. That is the nature of its ministry. In view of recent events emotions are running very high. We need to remind people of some basic principles in debating on this site. We need to be civil when we express differences in opinion. No personal attacks. Avoid you, your statements. Don't characterize an entire political party with comparisons to Fascism or Communism or other extreme movements that committed atrocities. CF is not the place for broad brush or blanket statements about groups and political parties. Put the broad brushes and blankets away when you come to CF, better yet, put them in the incinerator. Debate had no place for them. We need to remember that people that commit acts of violence represent themselves or a small extreme faction.
KJV
- Thread starter martinlb
- Start date
- Aug 3, 2007
- 9,042
- 3,372
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Single
Actually the King James Bible is a little over 400 years old. While it is increasingly challenging to read for every new generation, it is basically readable . It is not subject to copyright laws so it is inexpensive and convenient for all kinds of communication.
It is the Wycliffe translation of 14th century English that is much closer to 700 years. While Wycliffe did a great service, the language in his translation is truly obsolete now.
Compare ( for ex.) John 3:16
“¶ For God so loued þe world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.”
1611 King James Version (KJV
To the 1382 Wycliffe translation:
It is the Wycliffe translation of 14th century English that is much closer to 700 years. While Wycliffe did a great service, the language in his translation is truly obsolete now.
Compare ( for ex.) John 3:16
John 3:16
King James Version
John 3:16
“¶ For God so loued þe world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.”
1611 King James Version (KJV
John 3:16
King James Version ( modified)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.To the 1382 Wycliffe translation:
| 16 | For God louede so the world, that he yaf his `oon bigetun sone, that ech man that bileueth in him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf. |
Upvote
0
- Feb 10, 2013
- 38,943
- 22,257
- 30
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Celibate
- Politics
- US-Republican
I'm not a huge fan of the KJV, because I sometimes find it difficult to read, but I admire its influence on our language. It IS a beautiful translation that has nourished countless faithful, for that I am grateful.
Since I am Catholic, I use the New American Bible or New Jerusalem Bible regularly, or any other approved translation from my Church.
Since I am Catholic, I use the New American Bible or New Jerusalem Bible regularly, or any other approved translation from my Church.
Upvote
0
Thanks for the thoughtful replies about the KJV. I wasn't thinking about that version of the bible but I can now see how I shouldn't have entitled this thread "KJV".
What I meant to bring up is how some people actually speak, or try to speak, in King James English. And the to the best of my knowledge King James style speaking is around 700 years old. What's the reason for using it?
What I meant to bring up is how some people actually speak, or try to speak, in King James English. And the to the best of my knowledge King James style speaking is around 700 years old. What's the reason for using it?
Upvote
0
- Feb 10, 2013
- 38,943
- 22,257
- 30
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Celibate
- Politics
- US-Republican
Personally? As a young (30 year old) American, I don’t see many people speak that way. Especially in the Midwest where most people speak clearly and plainly.
Maybe people from other areas and countries have a different experience?
Upvote
0
- Aug 3, 2007
- 9,042
- 3,372
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Eastern Orthodox
- Marital Status
- Single
In some American Churches, old English phrases might be used like in the Lord’s Prayer but that’s about it. This style of English is still around 400 years old though.
Even the Mayflower Compact of the 1620 Plymouth Colony is fairly understandable now.
The language of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are basically understandable. The technical aspects of these documents can be challenging but that is a different matter.
Look at the 1863 Gettysburg Address of Abraham Lincoln. It is sophisticated, brief but still comprehensible even if needs to be read carefully.
My ancestry is Arabic and American colonist. When I was a kid in the early 1970s, I never heard anyone in our families speaking using words like “thou” or “thee” .
Even the Mayflower Compact of the 1620 Plymouth Colony is fairly understandable now.
The language of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution are basically understandable. The technical aspects of these documents can be challenging but that is a different matter.
Look at the 1863 Gettysburg Address of Abraham Lincoln. It is sophisticated, brief but still comprehensible even if needs to be read carefully.
My ancestry is Arabic and American colonist. When I was a kid in the early 1970s, I never heard anyone in our families speaking using words like “thou” or “thee” .
Upvote
0
David Lamb
Well-Known Member
- May 30, 2024
- 4,215
- 2,402
- 76
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Baptist
- Marital Status
- Married
I don't know. It seems particularly apparent in prayer meetings. For example, I remember a dear Christian brother, now with the Lord, who in prayer referred to people who were ill as those who were "laid on one side on a bed of sickness."
Upvote
0
Similar threads
