Definition

Noun: * Modern English: The stage of the English language in use from the late 15th century to the present day. It is characterized by the Great Vowel Shift, the standardization of spelling, and the expansion of vocabulary, and is the direct ancestor of contemporary English.

Usage

• The term "Modern English" is used to distinguish this period from earlier forms like Middle English and Old English. It is a historical and linguistic classification.
• It is typically used in academic, historical, or linguistic contexts.
• It is often preceded by "Early" (c. 1450-1700) or "Late" (c. 1700-present) to specify sub-periods.

Examples

• The works of William Shakespeare are written in Modern English, though the language has continued to evolve since his time.
• Linguists study the transition from Middle English to Modern English.
• The King James Bible, published in 1611, is a landmark text of Early Modern English.

Advanced Usage

• "Modern English" vs. "Contemporary English": While "Modern English" refers to the entire period from c. 1450, "contemporary English" or "present-day English" specifically refers to the current, living form of the language.
  • Example: Chaucer wrote in Middle English, Shakespeare in Early Modern English, and most authors today write in Contemporary English.

Variants and Related Words

• Early Modern English (noun): The phase of Modern English from roughly 1450 to 1700, encompassing the Renaissance and the works of Shakespeare and the King James Bible.
• Late Modern English (noun): The phase of Modern English from roughly 1700 to the present, characterized by further standardization and global spread.
• Modern (adjective): Of or relating to the present or recent times, as opposed to the remote past.

Synonyms

• New English (a less common, historical synonym)
• Present-Day English (specifically for the current form within the Modern English period)

Different Meanings

• The word "modern" alone is an adjective meaning "relating to the present or recent times." The compound term "Modern English" is a specific proper noun in linguistics.
  • Example (adjective): They live in a modern apartment.
  • Example (compound noun): The grammar of Modern English is different from Old English.

Noun

1. English since about 1450