Episode 189: Stressed Out
Summary
This episode explores 1630s England, covering the rise of Archbishop Laud and the founding of Maryland, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It examines how English syllable stress evolved, leading to the schwa sound in unstressed syllables. The host uses Charles Butler’s writings and colonial history to illustrate these linguistic shifts.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Spelling reform and Charles Butler's 1633 book
The history of English syllable stress patterns
Political tension in England and the founding of Maryland
Schwa sounds, unstressed syllables, and English rhythm
Founding of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Sweden
Harvard College and the first printing press in the colonies
The Book of Common Prayer riots and the lead-up to Civil War
Ben Jonson on noun-verb stress and modern pronunciation shifts
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