Author Topic: Early Modern English (Read 990 times)

PaulLuke · « **on:** July 12, 2012, 12:54:12 PM »

Hey, I was wondering if anyone here knows why early modern English (e.g. thee, thou, thine, eateth, cometh, saith, hast, etc.) is the common way to translate Latin liturgical and scriptural texts among traditionalists. I understand that the Douay-Rheims Bible uses this language because it was translated in the 16th or 17th century and that prayers like the Hail Mary, Our Father, Memorare, Angelus, etc were also translated long ago, but that doesn't exactly explain why my Angelus Press Missal contains this in the English translation.

I really like its use, especially since it gives it the air of antiquity and something sacred, but is there really any reason for it?

TKGS · « **Reply #1 on:** July 12, 2012, 02:33:47 PM »

Its use gives it the air of antiquity and something sacred.

Nylndech · « **Reply #2 on:** July 12, 2012, 03:46:46 PM »

for english translations i really like douayrhems

new american bible cuts all that out and mroe

realld dont have a problem reading douay rhems out loud to others or silently to self

Matthew · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2012, 03:51:20 PM »

Study Liturgy -- you'll find that often times, even Eastern rite Liturgy "in the vernacular" uses a fixed and antiquated form of the language, rather than the version you find used in modern-day newspapers and comic books.

"And with thy spirit" has a more noble sound than,
"Back at ya, bub!"

poche · « **Reply #4 on:** July 24, 2012, 03:08:20 AM »

Those terms thee, thou thine, etc. were all part of the way people used to speak back in those days. that today it would sound formal to hear those terms used would be an example of how language changes over time. In those days those terms were related to the 2nd person informal of the English language.
People were praying using that verbiage and they became accustomed to using it so that even though the language has changed, our prayers have not.

LordPhan · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2012, 03:21:11 AM »

Thou = Singular, You = Plural, in modern english You is used for both, which of course the modernists love since they can misinterprit whatever they want.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2012, 03:21:24 AM »

Quote from: poche

Those terms thee, thou thine, etc. were all part of the way people used to speak back in those days. that today it would sound formal to hear those terms used would be an example of how language changes over time. In those days those terms were related to the 2nd person informal of the English language.
People were praying using that verbiage and they became accustomed to using it so that even though the language has changed, our prayers have not.

When my mother says the Hail Mary she will use you and your. It's very grating on the ears.

. . . . the Lord is with YOU, blessed are YOU among women and blessed is the fruit of YOUR womb.

PaulLuke · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2012, 08:48:13 PM »

Quote from: Telesphorus

When my mother says the Hail Mary she will use you and your. It's very grating on the ears.

. . . . the Lord is with YOU, blessed are YOU among women and blessed is the fruit of YOUR womb.

I know exactly what you mean. Back when I was an NO Catholic, I remember occasionally hearing the person/people behind me using these terms; even then I cringed at the sound of it. Some people are so anti-tradition they can't even pray as our English-speaking ancestors have for centuries. Also, oftentimes it was a sister (always nondescript, wearing a simple shirt, maybe a skirt, and rarely some sort of veil). It wasn't until much later that this all made sense to me.