Language of Robinson Crusoe Essay

Daniel Dafoes popular saucy, in the beginning backingd The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, diddly-shit Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, whole alone in an uninhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the sassing of the Great River of Oroonoque Having been cast on brink by Shipwreck, wherein totally(prenominal) the workforce perished but him self. With an Account how he was at last as peculiarly deliverd by Pyrates (iii), like most classics underwent many editions with the years. However nothing but the first edition, which is the basis of this es affirm, can create us the look and feel of the time as intended to be shown by the author. earlyish Modern faceAccording to Volume 14 of The Cambridge History of slope and American Literature in 18 Volumes, Early Modern English period marked the expansion of the enforce of the English language outside England. But since English was spread at mixed times it has been subjected to different influences and supernumerary variations ca workoutd by attempts at etymological spell out (Ward et al ch 15 sec 3 par 1). These were evident in the novel in two aspects of language grammar and vocabulary (Ward et al ch 15 sec 1 par 1-2).Among the inflectional changes during the early modern English was the dropping of the weak vowel in verbs ending in ed (Ward et al. ch 15 sec 4 par. 7). Examples of these manifested not sole(prenominal) in the title (the word deliverd) but within the text itself such(prenominal) as calld, filld, encreasd, and fatigud. Spelling also appeared to be phonetically forged (Ward et al. ch 15 sec 3 par. 1) with wrangle like perswasions, lyon, lye, and prophetick. Compounding of words were also used in the novel by morals of free-school, hand-maids, ground-tackle and fellow-slave. However, the change in the verbs as well as the defects in spelling was not use to the entire novel which take aways us consider the reasons for such use.Towards a duty in StyleDaniel Defoe, in his book An Essay upon Projects, emphasized that it was the function of the society to polish and refine the English tongue and to purge it from all the irregular additions that ignorance and affectation have introduced as befitted the noblest and most comprehensive of all the vulgar languages in the world (8). The spread of the English language was depict in the novel when Robinson Crusoe teaches his servant Friday the English language. We whitethorn notice from an draw out of their discourse below that although essentially Crusoe and Friday came to communicate effectively with each other, Fridays English differs much from Crusoes parallel to their difference in billet and origin Friday, My Nation tap out much, for all that.Master, How beat if your Nation beat them, how come you to be taken? Friday, They more many than my Nation in the Place where me was they take one, two, three, and me my Nation over beat them in the yon Place, where me no was there my Nation take one, two, great Thousand. Master, But wherefore did not your Side recover you from the Hands of your Enemies then? Friday, They run one, two, three, and me, and make go in the boat my Nation have no Canoe that time. (Defoe, Robinson Crusoe 254) Much is the same circumstance that brought about the variations and additions to the English language in which Defoe is clamoring for purity (An Essay upon Projects 8).Shoar and Shore. Aside from the defective spelling mentioned primarily is the variation in the spelling (Ward et al. ch 15 sec 3 par. 1). An example if this is the word shore, spelled shore and shoar, in different context of the novel. It may be noted that shoar was only used in the constituent of Robinson Crusoes mishaps. That is to say, from the part of his captivity at Sallee until before his wreck on the island. These mishaps, Crusoe later reflected on, were results of his ignorance in the Providence of God and malcontent thus the use of the spelling shoar. magic spell his solitary life in the island described the learning process he underwent to survive and finally live harmoniously with his surroundings hence the re-create use of the spelling shore. In this regard, one may interpret that the use of the word was intentional to show the need and difficulty in creating a standard for the English language.viz. and (viz.). The use of foreign language in novels is sooner common throughout the ages. As such, we came to attention on the use of the Latin word viz. Oxford English Dictionary defines viz. as the abbreviation of videlicet which generally means namely or that is to say (1033). Although Defoe used viz. without parenthesis and viz. in parenthesis found on the same definition, its participation in the statement are quite different. The viz. without parenthesis was used in identifying and qualifying statements such as the All the rest of that Day I spent in afflicting my self at the dismal Circumstances I was brought to, viz. I ha d neither Food, House, Clothes, Weapon, or Place to fly to (Robinson Crusoe 82). On the other hand, viz. in parenthesis, which appeared in lines like This was what I wishd for so I took them up, and servd them as we serve notorious Thieves in England, (viz.) Hangd them in Chains for a Terror to others (Robinson Crusoe 138), was used as such in order to explain earlier statement. The use of parenthesis to compare the use of the same word in the novel further reflects Defoes quest for refinement of the English language as mentioned previously.ConclusionIndeed, disregardless of the plot of the story which categorized it to fiction, the culture and language of the time is unmistakable. Robinson Crusoe, in its original version, allows us the indulgence to peek and appreciate not only the early modern English language but the period as well. The flexibility of the language then reflected the society of that time as it has eer been for any period or era. At the same time, the novel prov ided additional venue for the author to disseminate his ideas and further his individual attempt towards the mutation to the modern English language and insertions to the importance of learning across the spectrum of the society. such(prenominal) power language has to influence its readers, whether consciously or unconsciously. And the duality that the novel showed made it a favorite among children and adults alike. Fulfilling its objectives to entertain and propagate (however subtle it may be).Works CitedDefoe, Daniel. An Essay Upon Projects. New York Adamant Media Corporation, 2005. Print. . The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in anuninhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself. With an Account how he was at last as strangely deliverd by Pyrates. capital of the United Ki ngdom printed for W. Taylor, 1719. Print. Oxford English Dictionary. New York Oxford University Press, 2005. Print. Ward, Aldolphus William, Sir, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York G.P. Putnams Sons, 1907-21 New York Bartleby.com, 2000 (Web) April 1, 2009.