How far back in time can you understand English? (www.deadlanguagesociety.com)

submitted 2 months ago by rssbot@lemmy.bestiver.se to c/hackernews@lemmy.bestiver.se

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[-] CombatWombat@feddit.online 4 points 2 months ago

I get the gist of 1200, but 1100 is inscrutable. If you’re having trouble through 1300 and 1400, my best advice is to read it aloud — your ear is better than your eye.

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

1100 is about where I lose it as well. 1200 I get about half of it with a couple readings. So I could go to about the time of Chaucer's g-g-grandfather.

[-] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 4 points 2 months ago

ſaid he, “My hens are fat and luſty, and you may haue them cheap.”

Did he just call his hens lusty?

[-] ikidd@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

It was synonmous with "healthy" at the time.

this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2026

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