Before King James: Hear how the Wycliffe Bible sounded
In the 14th century, theologian John Wycliffe’s translation of the Bible into English made scripture accessible to the common people, marking a historic shift. Wycliffe believed the Bible should be for everyone, not just clergy or the educated elite who read Latin. His translation was among the first of its kind.
Professor Dr. Dorsey Armstrong, a medievalist, recently demonstrated how early English sounded by reciting the Lord’s Prayer for Wired. Pronunciations of familiar words like “Our Father” and “hallowed” were strikingly different. “Our Father” may have sounded like “Oor Fath-er,” and “hallowed” had a more guttural tone. These differences reflect the blend of Old English, Latin, and Norman influences on medieval English.
Dr. Armstrong’s demonstration highlights just how much the language has evolved, offering a fascinating glimpse into how English was spoken centuries ago.
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