The paper considers the main linguistic ideas of B. Jonson, a supporter of the theory of General Usage, concerning the standardization of the English language and improving its spelling, graphics and phonetics in the context of the epoch (the first half of the 17th century), set out in his «English Grammar». Special attention is paid to the analysis of the phonetic and spelling sections of his linguistic work: to the recommendations on reading, pronunciation, accent, syllabification, as well as to the playwright’s views on the relationship of syntax and punctuation in expressive speech. The conclusion is made about the importance of this work as a source of valuable information about language features of English in the Renaissance period, which indirectly sheds light on some peculiarities of William Shakespeare’s language.
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