by Captain Geneve Rogan-Hawk

Created on: October 30, 2009

Shakespeare is one of the most magnanimous writers to have survived the ages. His words are eloquent and paint vivid pictures in the minds of those who read his work. Though his words are not in modern day English, that does not necessarily mean that it is incomprehensible. It merely means that the reader is not skilled enough in literature and terminology to understand what he is trying to convey. Unfortunately, this is the case for the majority of people.

If anything, English-speaking communities should be ashamed at how their language has been destroyed to represent a mere shadow of what it once was. In Shakespeare's time, the simple act of speaking was art. Words could say multiple things at once, make clever insinuations, and ignite passion. Now, the English language has become blunt, crass, and riddled with meaningless slang that changes every other week to reflect how poorly educated the masses are. As a result, English is ranked as one of the most difficult languages to learn worldwide. This is not how it was intended to be. Shakespearian language was the very essence of the beauty of the written word. To say that his everlasting words are unintelligible just shows the ignorance of the person. If they had a thorough understanding and respectable command of the English language, they too could experience the many marvels that Shakespeare has to offer.

Without the grasp of a more advanced form of speech, people will not be able to express themselves as they would want to. Society is reduced to the use of hackneyed word that doesn't mean what we want to say; it is are only a close approximation. If we had retained the use of proper English and grammatical skills, jobs would be easier to get and problems would be solved much quicker. A higher education means higher respectability. You cannot hope to be respected by constantly using slang.

Shakespear, however, did use slang from his time, but the slang was not crude and uneducated. It was intricate and passionate; we have lost the language and we have lost the passion. I admit that even now I am struggling to find words to convey the depth of my concern. But it's no fault of ours. We were brought up in a society that placed no importance on the way that we speak; as a result, we have fallen into the disgusting habit of shortening words and slurring our speech because we are too lazy to care that we sound incompetent. I am not telling you to start speaking in old English. Expanding your vocabulary is just good sense and will help you in the long run. Shakespear probably knew this. And it is for precisely that reason that his works have survived the ages.

Learn more about this author, Captain Geneve Rogan-Hawk.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.