Double comparative forms in William Shakespeare plays : socio-linguistic analysis

Abstract EN

Double Comparative forms (more mightier) are a disputable subject among grammarians long time ago.

The research aims to give a better understanding of how double comparative forms used in William Shakespeare's plays from a sociolinguistic perspective.

English language grammarians regarded the utilization of such structures unacceptable and non-standard in English language.

I prove that these forms have roots back to Latin and they used in standard language, in William Shakespeare's drama and other dramatists till 1711.

Prescriptivism regarded these kinds of structures as incorrect use of language.

The study demonstrates that double comparative structures were an obvious aspect of upper-class people at that time not as some scholars regard them "Bad Double Comparatives!" and they start to be low–class language and non–standard at 1711 and onward.