THE DYNDYNAMICS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE CHANGE FROM THE 17TH TO THE 18TH CENTURIES TROUGH SHORT STORIES WILLAIM SHAKESPEARE HAMLET AND THE CASTLE OF OTRANTO BY HORACE WALPOLE

Abstract

This research aims to trace and compare the dynamics of the English language change during the 17th and 18th centuries. The focus is placed on spelling and vocabulary changes, using two literary texts—Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Otranto by Horace Walpole. Due to the huge development of English language influenced by historical, cultural, and social factors, it became necessary to examine how these transformations are represented in literature. To attain this goal, a word comparison method was implemented, analyzing selected words from both stories to identify the distinctions at the level of form and usage. The chosen works represent two different linguistic periods of time and provide a clear contrast in words spelling and lexical choices. The changes in vocabulary and spelling reflect a gradual enrichment towards standardization and an increase in lexical variety. However, the study encountered challenges in maintaining consistent word lists due to differences in editions. Regardless, the research enhances our understanding of the evolution of the English language and paves the way for additional studies that examine literary texts as historical linguistic evidence.