The History of English Podcast · Kevin Stroud

Episode 165: Glamorous Grammar

·1 hr 2 min·1 clip

This episode explores the creation of the first English grammar book in 1586 and its lasting consequences. Host Kevin Stroud examines how Latin grammar frameworks were forcibly applied to English. The episode connects this linguistic history to the political intrigue of the Babington Plot against Queen Elizabeth I. The year 1586 saw spymaster Francis Walsingham intercept coded letters between Anthony Babington and Mary, Queen of Scots, revealing an assassination plot. Codebreakers cracked the cipher by identifying the most common symbol, assuming it represented the most common English letter: E. The prominence of the letter E is a legacy of worn-down Old English inflectional endings, often spelled with a silent 'e'. William Bullokar published "Bullokar's Brief Grammar of English" that same year, using his own difficult-to-read phonetic alphabet. Bullokar's grammar was modeled directly on William Lily's authorized Latin textbook, imposing Latin concepts like eight parts of speech onto English. He omitted adjectives as a separate category because Latin classified them under nouns, showcasing an immediate problem. His phonetic spellings recorded that the plural 's' suffix (e.g., in "words") was no longer pronounced as a separate syllable. Bullokar also noted the letter 'Z' had two names, 'zed' and 'zee', in late 1500s England. A fascinating insight is the etymological link between "glamour" and "grammar," where the Scots word "glamour" evolved from "grammar" and meant magic or enchantment. This stemmed from the medieval view that learning Latin grammar was like acquiring a secret, almost magical knowledge. The episode argues that English grammar shifted from relying on morphology (word endings) to syntax (word order) as inflections eroded, a key difference from Latin. The first grammar emerged as part of a broader European standardization movement, like Italy's 1582 language academy. A memorable moment describes Mary, Queen of Scots' execution, where the executioner lifted her severed head by her auburn wig, revealing her short, gray hair beneath. The tone is educational and conversational, weaving a narrative that connects espionage, linguistic history, and social change. Stroud's style is detailed and explanatory, breaking down complex linguistic concepts with clear examples. Listeners who love deep dives into etymology and the unexpected intersections of language and history will be captivated. Those seeking a light, modern usage guide or disinterested in historical linguistics might find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A 1586 Latin model shapes English grammar, from fading endings to the names of the letter Z.

Modern English grammar comes through as something shaped after the fact, not handed down fully formed. Episode 165 follows the first attempt to describe English grammar in 1586, when Latin supplied the model, into an Elizabethan moment when older inflectional endings had already…

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Why you'd press play

Why does English grammar still carry Latin baggage, and why might you say zee while others say zed?

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