I recently got married and the process and principles of marriage are on my mind. Marriage is a solemn promise between a man and woman, and a higher power, God, with a government often included. When it comes to marriage ceremonies, English is often a little different in flavour. Let me share with you a few of the differences.
Vows not promises
Although “promises” is a more modern English word, “vows” is the traditional word used for marriages. It is used less in everyday life and is a little more formal, which reflects the seriousness of the promises we make.
Thee not you
It’s quite possible that even in modern marriages we will use English which is more like Shakespeare’s plays than what we say every day. “Thee” is an old form of “you”. For example, “I take thee to be my lawfully wedded wife...”
The King James Version Bible
It is still very popular in many churches where weddings take place to use a 1611-version of the bible. The King James Version Bible was translated around Shakespeare’s time. This is a very good translation of the original languages of the bible, and many people read it every day even in modern times.
Why not watch a traditional western wedding on YouTube and see if you hear some of this language?
Оставьте заявку и мы подберём вам подходящую программу обучения и преподавателя
Вы можете узнать свой примерный уровень знаний, пройдя небольшой грамматический тест.
