The History of English Podcast: Episode 181 – "Heaven and Earth"

Host: Kevin Stroud
Release Date: January 17, 2025
Title: Heaven and Earth
Description: Exploring two pivotal events in the early 1600s—the completion of the King James Bible and the invention of the telescope—and their profound impact on the English language.

1. Introduction and Context

In Episode 181 of The History of English Podcast, host Kevin Stroud delves into the early 1600s, a period marked by significant events that reshaped both the world and the English language. Stroud focuses on two monumental developments: the completion of the King James Bible and the invention of the telescope. These events, though sometimes conflicting, collectively laid the groundwork for the modern English language and the scientific revolution.

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [00:09]: "We’re going to look at two important historical events which shaped the world and the English language in the early 1600s."

2. The Early 1600s: Early Modern Era and Worldview

Stroud characterizes the early 1600s as the early modern era, juxtaposing it with the lingering medieval mindset. During this time, society was deeply religious, with a pervasive fear of divine retribution. Natural disasters were often interpreted as punishments from God, a belief system reflected in the language we still use today, such as the legal term "act of God."

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [00:09]: "It was a time when almost everyone was God fearing, literally, God fearing."

3. Astrology's Influence on Language

Astrology was a cornerstone of daily life and thought in the early 1600s, with most rulers employing court astrologers to guide policies. Stroud elucidates how this astrological belief system infused the English language with numerous terms still in use today.

Key Terms Derived from Astrology:

• Disaster: From the Latin dis (bad) and aster (star), meaning "ill-starred."
• Consider: From Latin con (with) + cetus (stars), originally referring to contemplating the stars.
• Desire: From D (from) + cetus (stars), implying hope tied to celestial influence.
• Influence: Derived from the belief that stars exerted a fluid-like influence on Earth.
• Saturnine, Mercurial, Jovial: Adjectives reflecting astrological influences of Saturn, Mercury, and Jupiter respectively.

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [Transcript Segment]: "A disaster was an event that was literally ill starred or due to a bad alignment of the planets and stars."

4. Emerging Scientific Thought

Amidst the dominant astrological worldview, a nascent scientific revolution began to take shape. Stroud highlights Sir Francis Bacon's pivotal role in promoting the scientific method, emphasizing observation, experimentation, and empirical evidence over tradition and superstition.

Key Points:

• Sir Francis Bacon: Advocated for knowledge derived from direct observation and inductive reasoning.
• Scientific Method: Began to replace traditional scholasticism, laying the foundation for modern science.
• Evolution of 'Science': Initially meant "knowledge" but gradually specialized to denote systematic study based on the scientific method.

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [Early 1600s]: "He believed that true knowledge came from observation and experience and logic and reason."

5. The King James Bible Project

Commissioned by King James in 1604, the King James Bible (Authorized Version) was a monumental translation effort that profoundly influenced the English language. Stroud details the meticulous translation process, which relied heavily on earlier versions like William Tyndale’s translation, resulting in language that was somewhat archaic even at the time of its publication.

Key Points:

• Translation Committees: Six groups from Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge worked on different sections over nine months.
• Language Retention: Approximately 80% of the King James Bible’s language traces back to Tyndale’s version.
• Archaic Features: Use of "thee," "thou," and older verb forms persisted.
• Initial Reception: Mixed responses due to archaic language and significant printing errors, such as the infamous "wicked Bible."

Notable Quotes:

Kevin Stroud [Upon introduction to King James Bible]: "It appears that the language of the King James Bible was considered somewhat archaic when it was first published."

Kevin Stroud [On Pronouns]: "The King James Bible kept the old pronoun ye, as in 'ye, ye of little faith.'"

6. The Invention of the Telescope

Parallel to the Bible translation, the invention of the telescope revolutionized astronomy and challenged the geocentric view of the universe. Stroud recounts the contributions of Hans Lippershee, Galileo Galilei, and Johannes Kepler in developing and refining the telescope, leading to groundbreaking discoveries that supported the heliocentric model.

Key Points:

• Hans Lippershee: Credited with inventing the telescope in 1608, initially named "kuiker."
• Galileo Galilei: Enhanced the telescope, discovering moons of Jupiter and sunspots, which contradicted the notion of unchanging heavens.
• Johannes Kepler: Identified elliptical orbits of planets, further dismantling the traditional cosmology.
• Coining Scientific Terms: Words like "telescope," "satellite," and "electric" emerged from these discoveries, enriching the English lexicon.

Notable Quotes:

Kevin Stroud [On Telescope Invention]: "He built his own version. His initial version wasn't very strong, but he kept working on it and improving the design."

Kevin Stroud [On Heliocentric Impact]: "Celestial motion wasn't always consistent. It wasn’t always circular, and it wasn't centered around the earth."

7. Interplay Between Science and Language

The scientific advancements of the early 1600s necessitated the creation of new terminology to describe novel concepts. Stroud illustrates how English absorbed Latin and Greek roots to coin terms that accurately reflected scientific discoveries.

Examples of Scientific Lexicon Development:

• Gravity: Evolved from meaning "seriousness" to the force governing celestial and terrestrial motions.
• Magnet: Expanded from referring solely to lodestone to any magnetic substance.
• Electric: Derived from the Latin word for amber (electrum), describing the properties observed in amber-related experiments.

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [On Scientific Terms]: "New terms were being coined in English, often by taking an existing English term and giving it a new meaning, as we saw with the examples of gravity and moon."

8. Conclusion: Influence on the English Language

Stroud concludes by emphasizing the dual legacy of the early 1600s: the King James Bible's extensive impact on everyday English idioms and phrases, and the scientific revolution's contribution to the language's capacity for precision and innovation. The coexistence of these influences within English showcases its adaptability and richness.

Key Points:

• Idiomatic Influence: Phrases like "fall from grace," "blind leading the blind," and "the powers that be" trace back to the King James Bible.
• Scientific Vocabulary: Terms such as "telescope," "satellite," and "electric" became integral to modern English.
• Linguistic Integration: English seamlessly integrated both religious and scientific terminologies, enhancing its expressive and descriptive capabilities.

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [Final Thoughts]: "Modern English isn't very discerning. It embraces words from all sources, and new ways of looking at the world only contribute to the diversity and the expressive nature of the language."

Looking Ahead

Stroud hints at future episodes by mentioning ongoing developments in North America during the same period, promising listeners a continued exploration of English history and its global journey.

Notable Quote:

Kevin Stroud [Closing]: "Next time we'll look at some notable events in North America as we continue to work our way through the 1600s."

This episode masterfully intertwines the narratives of religion and science, illustrating how pivotal events can shape language in enduring ways. Whether through the preservation of biblical phrases or the introduction of scientific terminology, the early 1600s were undeniably transformative for the English language.