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Coffeehouses: The Unexpected Birthplace of Modern English Register
Episode 139
Published 1 week, 3 days ago
Description
In this episode we follow the 18th‑century London coffeehouse scene—where a penny grant, lively debate and a steady stream of travelers turned informal gatherings into the first public spheres that shaped modern conversational English. We trace how these cafés introduced new vocabulary, standardised spelling through print, blended maritime and commercial slang, and seeded the egalitarian register that would eventually spread worldwide.
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