International Talk Like Shakespeare Day

William Shakespeare is being honored on the 445th anniversary of his birth.

Mayor Richard M. Daley of Chicago, Illinois, has declared Thursday as "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" to celebrate the 445th birthday of the man many consider the greatest playwright in the English language. Unleash thy inner bard.

In a proclamation issued last week, Daley encouraged city residents to "screw their courage to the sticking place and celebrate Shakespeare by vocal acclamation of his words."

There's no reason why the rest of the country cannot play along, peppering our conversation with -- as the mayor suggested -- phrases such as "prithee" and "fie!" or, if you're at work, "pass yonder stapler."

It isn't as difficult as it sounds. After all, Shakespeare single-handedly contributed more than 1,700 words and phrases to the English language -- everything from "foul play" to "monumental".

One Web site offers 10 quick pointers on how to talk like Bill. A sampling:
Don't waste time saying "it." Just use the letter "t" ('tis, 'twill, I'll do't).
To add weight to your opinions, try starting them with "methinks," "mayhaps," "in sooth" or "wherefore."
When in doubt, add the letters "eth" to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth).
Finally, if you're inclined to yell at the driver who cuts you off as you head to work, why settle for "idiot," when "thou rank white-livered canker-blossom" is so much more satisfying.
For more ammunition, you can consult the random Random Shakespearean Insult Generator. "Thou vain fly-bitten moldwarp!" and "Thou gorbellied clapper-clawed scurvy-knave!" are just a sample of the offerings.

From Saeed Ahmed, CNN