1. Spelling and Pronunciation:
* Vowels: Vowels were often pronounced differently. "A" was often closer to "ah" (as in "father"), "E" could be closer to "eh" (as in "bed"), and "I" could be closer to "ee" (as in "see").
* Consonants: "Th" was pronounced with a stronger, raspier sound. "R" was sometimes silent at the end of words.
* Stress: Words were often stressed differently, making them sound quite unfamiliar to modern ears.
2. Vocabulary and Grammar:
* Archaic words: Many words used in Elizabethan times are no longer common today, or have different meanings. Examples include "prithee" (meaning "please"), "forsooth" (meaning "indeed"), and "anon" (meaning "soon").
* Different grammar: Word order and sentence structure were often different. For example, you might see "Thou art a knave" instead of "You are a knave."
3. Regional Variations:
Just like today, there were different regional accents and dialects in Elizabethan England. The language of Shakespeare's plays, written in London, would have been quite different from that spoken in the North of England, for example.
To give you a better idea:
* You can find online recordings of Shakespeare's plays performed with "original pronunciation," which can give you a sense of how the language might have sounded.
* Look for resources on the history of the English language, which will provide details on how pronunciation and grammar have changed over time.
Remember, it's impossible to perfectly recreate Elizabethan speech. But by understanding the differences, you can get a much better idea of how it might have sounded.