Effects of the Vernacular Language
Candace Rayford
Aiu Online- Huma215-1204-20
September 2012

Abstract

The Vernacular Language- simply defined as the language spoken in the streets (Sayre, 2010). This is the language that will be heard spoken amongst the common people, and used to define and identify the groups of people. The Vernacular Language impacted and changed the cultures during the early centuries. There are several factors that contribute and are responsible for the rise and spread of the vernacular language. A few of the main contributors that will be discussed in the following reading are the demand of spreading religion, demand of education, and the need of a commonly spoken language for the literature to be produced in to be available to all.

The first ones to begin the practice of the vernacular language within their works of literacy were the French. France begin this in the twelfth century, a year later at the beginning of the 14th century, vernacular language had spread to parts of Europe, eventually taking over Europe. Gradually as this language made its way through the regions, writers began to expand their works to a bigger audience by writing in the vernacular. One of the greatest writers to use the vernacular language in their work was the poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). Normally reading and writing were skills that only a small number of people possessed. The literacy in Latin was generally limited to the people of the upper class and members of the clergy. The shift from Latin to vernacular language, presented an important change within courtly literature, impacted religion, culture, education, and poetry. The reality of the truth, and how life really was, was depicted in the arts, it then transferred over into the literature. Through the literature, the vernacular language was used to describe life’s truths, and did so accurately. The use of the vernacular language became beneficial and played an important role in stabilizing the identity of cultures, people began to feel connected to their leaders and became more invloved. As the monarchies consolidated the vernacular language aided in the development of nationalism, and seemed to bring the people closer to each other. The Vernacular Language allowed people more freedom to express themselves and their feelings, feelings that they previously may not have had a method or words to describe them. An example of how these feeling were shared amongst the people is through the works of the troubadour’s and their poems of romantic love. One group not to be forgotten that benefited from the rise of the vernacular language was the women of that time. Women were empowered by the adoption of the vernacular language, and by the 15th century their works were more common and not an oddity. In addition as these noble women made history, their writings were being translated or written in the vernacular language, and if a woman wanted to participate in the cultural debates they had to learn the language being used which was the vernacular (McCash, 2008). An advance in technology allowed for a lot more work to get done and quicker. One of the invention’s that greatly helped the spread of the vernacular was the printing press. This machine printed faster, and produced more literature that was being translated into the vernacular. For those who did not speak Latin, this invention allowed people to start reading and writing in that of their own language. This in turn this motivated more people to become educated, and demands for material relating to the people came at high rates, and greatly impacted education. Religion became a big topic throughout this rise and spread of the vernacular language. Many discussions took place regarding the issue of whether or not to switch to the use of vernacular in the church. There was a strong desire to spread Christianity throughout the people, and they felt if the vernacular language was used it would be easier to convert people to the Christian faith as well as draw new members in. Once the decision was made to go ahead and switch to the vernacular, it was the job of the Monk’s to make the alphabet that would translate the Latin bible. This had previously been attempted by the Anglo Saxon Christians in the early 10th century. It was very apparent that use of the vernacular language began and created many socio-shifts as well as sociopolitical shifts in the cultures. By the time the rise and spread of the vernacular language established itself as the common spoken language of the people, government documents as well as legal documents were composed in the vernacular language. This switch was needed so that there was a common line of communication for all the people, no matter what your status or classification was. Having a common language allow for rules and guidelines to be set. Eventually leading to order and civilization, no more misunderstandings, thus taking away anyone’s excuse of they didn’t know, didn’t understand, or claiming they don’t speak that language that rule must not apply. Without the vernacular languages developing different regions would have been impossible, there would be less religion, and there would be a great deal of not so educated people running free.

References
Sayre, H. (2010). Discovering the Humanities. Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson
Mash, J. (2008). The Role of Woman in the Rise of the Vernacular. Comparative Literature. Retrieved from EBSCO host (2012) Aiu Online Library
Aiu Online (2012). Aiu Online Rise of the Vernacular. Retrieved August 2012 from http://www.aiuonline.edu/learning