Deborah's Journal

In 1776, whether you were declaring America independent from the crown or swearing your loyalty to King George III, your pronunciation would have been much the same. At that time, American and British accents hadn't yet diverged. What's surprising, though, is that Hollywood costume dramas get it all wrong: The Patriots and the Redcoats spoke with accents that were much closer to the contemporary American accent than to the Queen's English.

It is the standard British accent that has drastically changed in the past two centuries, while the typical American accent has changed only subtly.

Why Do Americans and Brits Have Different Accents?

...in this case refers to a Quaker custom of using "thee" instead of "you." It originated in the testimony of equality; one used "you" for people of higher status, so the Quakers used the same word for everyone. The usage went along with not tipping one's hat or calling another person "sir." As one can imagine, this behavior did not endear the Quakers to the British aristocracy.

To simplify the grammar, "thee" was used exclusively (rather than "thee" and "thou," which most Americans find challenging to sort out). Over time, fewer Friends used plain speech, although there has been a modern rekindling of interest.

davetrow and I began using plain speech between ourselves a few years ago (and now he will use it with others, mostly but not exclusively within the Meeting community). At first it felt awkward, almost as if I were channeling Shakespeare or Torah. Although I must still be mindful of my speech (which one should always be), the change has become easier.

I love the repeated, gentle reminder to strive for an "I-Thou" relationship, not only with my beloved, but with the world and all its inhabitants. I love the sense of intimacy, as if this were our private language, and the way the word "thee" can communicate cherishing and being cherished without making a big deal of it.