phistomefel_smeik t1_j9q5kaj wrote on February 23, 2023 at 7:52 PM

Reply to comment by AnthillOmbudsman in TIL that in 1554 Elizabeth Crofts hid in a wall on Aldersgate Street, where she pretended to be a heavenly voice. Reputedly 17,000 people came to listen to her give out anti-Catholic propaganda. by Kurma-the-Turtle

Language evolves and this text is 500 years old! As a german speaking historian I find it interesting how easy this short passage was to read. Written german texts from that period are way harder to decipher imo. Middle high german honestly feels like a different language or at least a strong dialect. And sometimes you think that something sounds like a modern german word but then it turns out to mean something completely different.

rolyfuckingdiscopoly t1_j9r4csn wrote on February 23, 2023 at 11:31 PM

That’s so interesting! I love things like that. Language is so cool. Also words that look or sound like one you know in your language but aren’t related… I forget the term for them. But like avocat in French not being avocado lol. My Arabic teacher called them “false friends,” and I think it’s fun to try to trace connections to them anyway.