The History of English Podcast Episode 150: A Capital Offense
Jul 29, 2021
Explore the rise of Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England and the establishment of the modern punctuation system. Learn about Henry's reign and the execution of Cardinal Woolsey, as well as the origins of capital offenses and their relation to decapitation. Discover the historical origins of punctuation and its development from ancient Greek writings to the printing press. Delve into the English Reformation, Thomas More's opposition, and the evolution of punctuation marks, with a focus on the comma. Dive into the changing meanings of words and the Reformation Parliament's role in the break with Rome.
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Henry's Rule Linked To Linguistic Themes
- In the early 1530s Henry VIII became Supreme Head of the Church and demanded absolute loyalty, making dissent a capital offense.
- The episode links political violence with linguistic changes, using "heads" as a thematic connector.
Caput Connects Punishment And Page
- The Latin caput (head) produced words like capital, chapter, and decapitate, all tied to the idea of marking or separating sections.
- Manuscript headings became capital letters, linking physical 'heads' to textual structure.
Punctuation Began As Oral Pauses
- Punctuation originated as marks to 'puncture' text and indicate pauses for oral reading rather than grammar.
- Early punctuation served vocal pacing, not sentence structure.