This reminded me of something I always mused about as a kid when reading stories about modern people somehow transported far into the past. Often stories will simply add a few "Thees" and "Thou's" and tada, transplanted folk can communicate easily.

That always struck me as iffy, and this is a perfect demonstration of why.

 

I remember this part of Geoffery Chaucer's prologue to The Canterbury Tales which I had to memorize in high school English literature.  He wrote it in about the year 1390.

Whan that Aprillla with is shoures sooye

The doghte of March hath pierced to the roote

And bathed every vein in swich licour

Of which virtu engendred is the flour  

Why did I have to learn this?  I'll never use it.

In about 1952 or 1953 I was a Marine PFC serving in Japan at South Camp Fuji.

I was an EOD technician but there wasn't much for us to do so when we weren't sweeping the artillery range at North Camp we worked in the ammo dump loading and unloading trucks.

One evening we had a company beer party in the mess hall.  Our commander, a captain, was three sheets to the wind and stood up on a table and started reciting 'Whan that Aprilla....'

I got on the table and recited the prolog along with him.

The next day he called me into his office.  I saluted and stood at attention.

The captain said, "You've been to school private Sivertson."

I replied "Yes sir."

He said, "I want you for my company clerk."

I got promoted to corporal and became the company clerk sitting in an office instead of loading trucks because I had learned something I would never use.  And no more guard duty or KP.

On occasion I have been asked to speak to students and I always tell that story...a lesson in learning something you will never use.

Noel