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Radio National: The original pronunciation of Shakespeare

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Two actors perform Shakespeare on stage
Radio National: The original pronunciation of Shakespeare

SUBJECTS:  English

YEARS:  9–10


Have you ever been in a situation where someone is speaking to you in English but you cannot understand them?

William Shakespeare wrote in English but sometimes it is difficult to understand his English.

In 'Lingua Franca' the linguist David Crystal talks about mounting a production of 'Romeo and Juliet' using Shakespeare's original pronunciation.

Find out how audiences responded to the play performed as Shakespeare actually meant it to be heard!

If you like this clip, listen to the full ABC RN documentary by clicking 'Download Audio' at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/linguafranca/original-pronunciation-of-shakespeare/2967500


Things to think about

  1. 1.Make a recording of yourself reading aloud a short extract of one of your favourite scenes from a Shakespearean play. Perhaps 'Romeo and Juliet' or another one you know. Play the extract to a friend or someone in your family. See if they can understand what you are saying. What problems did you find in trying to pronounce the words? What problems did they have in understanding you?
  2. 2.Why was the play 'Romeo and Juliet' covered in phonetic symbols when the Globe actors first read it? Which modern English accents did Crystal and the actors hear when the prologue was first spoken with Shakespeare's original pronunciation? How did the spelling and rhyming pattern of Shakespeare's writing help Crystal and the actors work out the original pronunciations? Why do you think the East London school kids like the Globe's version of 'Romeo and Juliet' with original pronunciations?
  3. 3.Most modern day productions of Shakespeare's plays pronounce the words in Shakespeare's plays using current English pronunciation. Using information from Crystal's broadcast make up a list of hints of how to pronounce a Shakespearean play in the original. Hint: look at what Crystal says about the pronunciation of 'r', 'th', rhymes and running syllables together. You are the director of your school's production of 'Romeo and Juliet'. Choose a key scene that you want to rehearse with your actors. Locate a text version of the scene. Develop a list of pointers for them that advise them how to pronounce the words as you think Shakespeare intended. Maybe you could even try to write some of the words phonetically like Crystal did for the Globe actors!
  4. 4.View an English film production of 'Romeo and Juliet'. For example Baz Luhrmann's 'William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet' (1996) or Franco Zeffirelli's 'William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet' (1968). Select the scene from this film that you have already recorded or rehearsed with your actors. Compare the way the actors pronounce the scene with how you have recorded your own version.



Date of broadcast: 27 Nov 2010


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