Age of Reason (jan 1, 1600 – jan 1, 1700)
Description:
The Age of Reason
People wanted English to have rules (a proper, standard version)
Thought that without rules the lang would deteriorate
People rising through the classes but linguistically inept
Wanted more grammar books
Rise of the Prescriptivists
Related lang to formal written English and didn’t account for code-switching
Based on Latin (Can’t change)
Wanted Formal Academy to Regulate Eng (18th Cen);Major supporter included Jonathan Swift
Rules based on classical usage, logic, and etymology (e.g. No split infinitive, No prep at end, No double neg)
Added to timeline:
History of the English Language
Date:
