Saturday 22 November 2014

Will we know our next Shakespeare?

English is a funny old bird, and tricky to master. Shakespeare was a dab hand at it, and one way we know this is that he seemed to have a comprehensive knowledge of it. He didn't just type "dee-dum-dee-dum-dee-dum-dee-dum", but coined a large number of new words, which we employ to this day. There was no small number of authors in Bill's day, and since then the number has grown.

Writers are multitudinous today, and nobody employs neologisms like old Bill did. Nor does any writer expect their text to be scoured like Bill's. He is a figure very nearly of mythology. Tastes are broader. So will we know our next Bard? I know I won't.

2 comments:

  1. Yes, we already do. HIs name is Neil Gaiman

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    Replies
    1. I do like Gaiman, but even he might baulk at being so addressed. :D

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