The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 11.1152 Monday, 5 June 2000.
From: William Sutton <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Friday, 2 Jun 2000 09:59:47 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: 11.1131 Re: Hebrew and Languages
Comment: Re: SHK 11.1131 Re: Hebrew and Languages
Hi, Everyone,
I love speculating about Sh.'s polyglot personalities. Do you think he
knew any Welsh or Gaelic or Russian or my favourite, Dutch? His use of
compound words makes my ears tingle as the Dutch practically invented
it. The Dutch connections of Sh. lifestory are numerous after all.
The Hebrew connection I think about is that the Vautrollier's print shop
was licensed to publish in that language, as well as Greek, Latin and
English. (Dave Kathman please agree or correct the details, please). If
it was printed then there were interested readers. How will this
connection be satisfied though I ask, Florence?
And they were Belgian immigrants which gives me motivation to speculate
on that delightful franglais, Sophie noted.
I live in a polyglot surroundings and am often surprised by the
connections with people despite language.
I remember attending Wars of the Roses in Dutch where a scholar spoke
beforehand to outline the history and the settings. He spoke in Dutch
and one comment he made stays with me. 'Don't forget that in Sh.'s time
Dutch was already a language whilst English was a collection of backward
dialects.'
Oh how they laughed. But the truth is there. Hebrew on the other hand
had a four thousand year history relativating the comment. Was Chinese
even known? Any instances of chinese in England then? The Japanese had
sent someone to Rome at the same period I seem to recollect because of
the Jesuits?
Hope I'm not just waffling,
W.
