Speaking Renaissance
The Renaissance language is flirtatious, joyous, filled with risqué double entendre and political gossip. Elizabethans loved their language and their words were well chosen. No self respecting Elizabethan would dare say in two words what could be said in more. Have fun with it. When in doubt make up a word by adding " 'st" to a conventional word such as "fill'st my cup".
"Hello", best said
as "Good Day!", "Good morrow!", "Well met"
"Good Bye" spoken as "Fare thee well!", "God save thee", "I shall see thee anon".
"Yes" be "Aye"
"No" be "Nay"
"You" are certainly "Thou"
"You would" or "You should" rolls best off the pecking tongue as "Thou would'st"
or "Thou should'st".
"Listen"takes power as "Hark" or "Hark now"
"Ignore that" best be whispered as "Shun that"
"Come here" moves more feet as "Come hither"
"Days"- "Morrow"
"Evening"- "E'em"
"Never"- "Ne'r"
"Often"- "Oft"
"Why"- "Wherefore"
"Maybe"- "Perchance"
"Away"- ''Aroint"
"Truly"- "Verily"
"Thank you" - "Grammercy"
Some Sample Phrases
These phrases are best used to allow your class to attempt to translate them for you.
"He be a prattler
indeed!"
He lies through his teeth!
"He's stuffed
a red stocking"
He killed himself.
"Thou dried
meat's wag!"
What an idiot!
"Thou great
and mighty clumperton"
You are not worth my time.