Ga ~ Go ~ Ha ~ Har ~ He ~ Ho ~ I ~ J ~ Ka ~ Ki
Km ~ Kr ~ La ~ Le ~ Li ~ Ma ~ Mc ~ Md ~ Mi ~ Na
Ne ~ O ~ Pa ~ Pe ~ Ph ~ Ra ~ Ro ~ Sa ~ Schu ~ Si
Sta ~ Ste ~ TU ~ V ~ Wa ~ Wh ~ Wo ~ XYZ
Renspeak ~ Contractions This page submitted by Brian Murphy; William Shakespear
Try to eliminate most modern contractions from your vocabulary when speaking at the Renaissance Festival. I know that's a bit vague. Some contractions were used, but they were often not the same ones we use today.
Contractions to avoid: I'm, we're, they're, don't, can't, it's, Substitute: I am, we are, they are, do not, can not, it is, Contractions such as these tend to rob your speech of the very renaissance flavour that we are trying to cultivate. You can, of course, make a case for modern contractions being used in renaissance speech ("Aye, there's the rub.") I don't expect you to be able to completely eradicate these from your speech. If, however, your contractions come too frequently, you will be expected to give birth shortly thereafter.
There are some contractions that will actually improve the flavour of your speech.
Good Contractions Say: Instead Of: 'tis it's 'twas it was 'twould it would 'twill it will 'twere it were is't is it?
You can also drop the "v" from the middle of some words.
Say: Instead Of: e'er ever 'ere before ne'er never o'er over e'en even Phrases can be contracted, dropping whole words.
"Let us (go) to bed."
"I'll (have) none of thee."
"I will (go) away."
"Go to ( )."Today's RenSpeak is dedicated to Kim Raths and Mari Bottelson who have recently mastered contractions.
