Are you sure you speak English?

zwiebel · Sep 19, 2015

At the link is a recording of a modern-day linguist reading a 500-year-old, funny poem about a parrot. It's in English but a person would hardly recognize the language. If you understand a little Latin, French or German it might help...or not. Perhaps that's why it's called 'Speke Parrot'.

I've tried it looking at the subtitles and with my eyes closed and have concluded that if that's English, I don't speak it!

Have a try, see if you can understand 500-year-old spoken English/AKA Speke Parrot. Anyone who comes up with a translation gets a gold star! And no, I don't know how they've figured out the pronunciation.

http://i100.independent.co.uk/artic...guage-sounded-like-500-years-ago--b1leV6aXmLg

zwiebel · Sep 19, 2015

Movies provide a fascinating insight into how American English has changed in just a century, I think. But you need to be a fan of very old movies to appreciate the difference.

Donjeta · Sep 20, 2015

The subtitles were easier to understand than the speech.

CoverMeCagney · Sep 20, 2015

It sounds like more of a Scottish or Welsh accent - not a sniff of English english intonation!

Ragamuffin · Sep 20, 2015

Lol I remember struggling with Chaucer when I did English A Level. Very similar, but when you get used to it, you can see/hear the basis of modern English in there.

Filly · Oct 20, 2020

Samuel N Benton said:
Guys, I ran into the problem of the language barrier. Can anyone recommend me a quality and reliable translator?

Sorry, I live in Philly. If you spoke with our accent nobody would understand ya.

Wishing you well and hope you find a good translator.

Filly · Oct 20, 2020

Zwiebel extra thanks for this. I've actually been following surveys done at Penn and other places that explain how accents change.

Interesting is how they found women who have gone to private Catholic High schools are more apt to change it. Also how signing in American Sign Language changes with it.

Sorry to derail, but it is fascinating. Youse all have a good one. I'm gonna check on the Iggles stats and have a glass of wudder.

CoverMeCagney · Oct 22, 2020

Samuel N Benton said:
Thank you. My search continues. I was recommended a service Website Localization Services - Translate for International Reach But I'm not sure. I don't know anything about it, maybe someone used it or read the reviews? Please tell me or recommend a proven and reliable professional and accurate translation service. I will be very grateful.

Which language do you need translating?

news buff · Oct 28, 2020

Such an interesting poem.

Tamacoleo · Dec 13, 2020

CoverMeCagney said:
It sounds like more of a Scottish or Welsh accent - not a sniff of English english intonation!

I found this article that mentions the video was created by Dutch university students who asked their professor of Medieval English to read it for the video “…Sobecki, who says a huge body of research makes it possible to recreate the sounds with relative accuracy.” I guess this is what our English ancestors probably sounded like 500 years ago!

#BBCtrending: The 500-year-old poem that captivated Reddit

Tamacoleo · Dec 13, 2020

CoverMeCagney said:
Which language do you need translating?

Found it! John Skelton - SPEAK, PARROT

Are you sure you speak English?

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