Language of Robinson Crusoe Essay

Daniel Dafoes popular novel, origin anyy titled The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an lonely 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 only if himself. With an Account how he was at last as strangely deliverd by Pyrates (iii), like most classics underwent many editions through the years. However energy but the first edition, which is the basis of this essay, can give us the look and feel of the time as intended to be shown by the author.Early new-fangled positionAccording to Volume 14 of The Cambridge History of English and American Literature in 18 Volumes, Early Modern English period mark the expansion of the commit of the English language outside England. But since English was spread at various times it has been subjected to opposite influences and additional variations ca util ise by attempts at etymological spelling (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 new-fangled 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 only in the title (the word deliverd) but within the text itself such as heraldd, filld, encreasd, and fatigud. Spelling also appeared to be phonetically defective (Ward et al. ch 15 sec 3 par. 1) with words like perswasions, lyon, lye, and prophetick. Compounding of words were also used in the novel by examples 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 applied to the entire novel which makes us consider the reasons for such use.Towards a Purity in StyleDaniel Defoe, in his book An audition upon Projects, emphasize d that it was the responsibility 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 depicted in the novel when Robinson Crusoe t each(prenominal)es his servant Friday the English language. We may notice from an excerpt of their discourse below that although essentially Crusoe and Friday came to communicate effectively with each other(a), Fridays English differs much from Crusoes parallel to their difference in status and origin Friday, My Nation suffer 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 yonder Place, where me no was there my Nation take one, two, great Thousand. Master, But why 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 Canoe 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 earlier 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 part 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. While his solitary life in the island described the learning mold he underwent to survive and finally live harmoniously with his surroundings hence the renewed 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 quite 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 that is to say which generally means namely or that is to say (1033). Although Defoe used viz. without parenthesis and viz. in parenthesis based on the same definition, its betrothal 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 had 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.) wait ond 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 split up the use of the same word in the novel further reflects Defoes quest for refinement of the English language as mentioned previously.ConclusionIndeed, regardless of the plan 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 always been for any period or era. At the same time, the novel provided additional venue for the author to disseminate his ideas and further his individual attempt towards the transition to the modern English language and insertions to the brilliance of learning across the spectrum of the society. Such 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 pass around (however subtle it may be).Works CitedDefoe, Daniel. An Essay Upon Projects. advanced 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. London printed for W. Taylor, 1719. Print. Oxford English Dictionary. New York Oxford University Pr ess, 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.