Today is Saturday, April 23, and it’s also “Talk Like Shakespeare Day.” The day celebrates the 400th anniversary of the playwright and poet’s death. Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564; his exact birth date remains unknown. William Shakespeare is known as the greatest writer in world history. He is frequently referred to as the Bard of Avon. Many on April 23, remember the works and life of William Shakespeare by choosing to speak or talk like him on this day. You may learn about William Shakespeare’s biography at Biography.com.
Perchance did thou knowest ’tis Shakespeare Day? Readeth on! https://t.co/9JrXuRgo4M
— Wizard101 (@Wizard101) April 23, 2016
https://youtu.be/Rx5g2sB4nTw
Perchance did thou knowest ’tis Shakespeare Day? Readeth on! https://t.co/9JrXuRgo4M
— Wizard101 (@Wizard101) April 23, 2016
For those who are new to Shakespeare speak and aren’t quite sure where to begin when trying to talk like Shakespeare, you’ll find there are plenty of resources to help. One could always begin by using Shakespeare’s quotes, as there are many. Here are some of William Shakespeare’s most popular quotes. These are an excellent addition to any verbal repertoire and will help ensure your Shakespearean speak is authentic. Two good resources for finding William Shakespeare quotes are Good Reads and Brainy Quotes . You may find additional William Shakespeare quotes below.
“You speak an infinite deal of nothing.”
“With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”
“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool.”
“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night til it be morrow.”
“Brevity is the soul of wit.”
“Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once.”
“All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts.”
“This above all: to thine ownself be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
“This above all: to thine ownself be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
While there are many nice quotes and sayings, one can speak on Talk Like Shakespeare Day, it’s also a fine time to turn to the Bard for proper insults.
The Talk Like Shakespeare website provides several tips and resources for those who would like to convert their everyday speak into Shakespeare prose. The site offers specific tips for the use of pronouns, and suggests that you replace the word it’s with ’tis, you with thou or thee, your with thy or thine, and yourself with thyself. These tips alone are an easy way to bring on the Shakespeare on Talk Like Shakespeare Day.
A few adjectives and adverbs that can be used include replacing the word please with I pray thee, or I pray you, why with wherefore, nothing with nought and anything with aught.
You’ll find more parts of speech on the website including tips for using past tense variants of words, commonly used verbs, and common expressions that can be translated into Shakespeare speak.
If you feel that figuring out words to turn into Shakespeare talk is simply too much trouble, you might want to check out the Shakespeare translator. With this online app, you simply type in your question or statement, then watch as your sentence is instantly transformed into Shakespeare talk.
For example, the question, “What’s up dude?” is translated as “Forsooth, what dost thou been up to broth’r?” You can check out the Shakespearean translator online at Schmoop.com.
What do you think about Talk Like Shakespeare Day? Are you going to speak like Shakespeare today?
[Photo by Rolau Elena/Shutterstock]