Episode 190: Union, Division and Unusual U
Summary
This episode explores the 1640s, focusing on the English Civil War and its linguistic impacts. It traces the origins of common proverbs in George Herbert’s 1640 collection and explains how the abolition of the Star Chamber spurred a printing boom that helped standardize English spelling. Additionally, the host details the phonetic evolution of the letter U, describing how French influence and the Great Vowel Shift created the modern "Y-glide" sound in words like university.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The 1640s and the letter U
Early versions of common proverbs in George Herbert's collection
King Charles I, the Short Parliament, and the Second Bishop's War
The articles A and AN: Why we say 'a university'
The Great Vowel Shift and the evolution of the long U sound
French influence, yod-dropping, and the modern U pronunciation
Preview of the new short U sound
The Long Parliament, treason trials, and the abolition of the Star Chamber
The newsbook boom and the standardization of English spelling
The origin of 'propaganda' and the terms Roundhead and Cavalier
The Irish Rebellion, the start of the Civil War, and regional divides
The Puritan ban on theater and the closure of London playhouses
Richard Hodges' homophones: corpse, realm, suit, and radish
The split of the short U sound and the emergence of the schwa
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