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The Lecture by Fredrico Zandomenghi
What is it that attracts us so to 19th century speech? Why are we tickled at the formality of their lexicon and their sparse use of contractions? And more pointedly, does anyone else read 19th century literature with the Queen’s English in mind, regardless of the novel’s setting?
As a lover of words, I am intrigued by the dialog of the past. I am also amused modern ears deem the speech as formal, while during the day their own elders were having apoplectic fits to their word choices. Heavens, it was colloquial, then, my dear! –So it was, as it will forever be. Re-enactors advise the first step back into history is eliminating the contractions out of one’s vocabulary. Rather quickly the alteration sounds formal to modern ears. Another tip, is to read as much primary sources as possible to get acquainted with the terms and slang of the era. This is much more difficult to acquire, as informal terms, by nature is regional and familial. Lastly, be sure your thesaurus is well-thumbed; choosing a more pretentious sounding word, works best when conveying a person of wealth. The trouble with speaking in this manner, is it is difficult to maintain a conscious effort over one’s vernacular without sounding wooden and rehearsed or alternately becoming overly excited and slipping in 21st century idioms and euphemisms. It truly takes diligent acting until the speaker is comfortable and thus convincing.
The beauty of the written word lies in the rewrite, the synonym suggestions, and grammar check; whether someone reads with their inner affected lilt is voluntary. Personally, I enjoy words. I enjoy the nuance each option brings. I also love words for their sound which is ironic given my hearing impairment. In a humorous twist, because I prefer the less hackneyed choice I have often never heard the word spoken and if I have heard the word spoken, does not equal how it really ought to be spoken. As a result I have a tendency to mispronounce words, which is hilarious in and of itself! There was a time as a young child when my mother and I would go through the dictionary and I would sound the words out, placing the emphasis wherever I desired. It made for many laughs. For example the first time I came across the term “embezzle,” I pronounced it “imbecile.” I also adored the sound the of “vendetta.” I thought it could be a name of beautiful Italian lady. I would danced around the room, repeating the word like a broken phonograph. Needless to say, I was horrified and dismayed when my mother explained the definition.
So, word to the wise (pun not intended), if you want to appear as a well to do, intelligent 19th century individual do practice your language. If you rather not sound intelligent, well there are also words for that . . .
Some amusing words to try, definitions withheld purposely–
- alacrity
- acculturation
- acrimonious
- ameliorate
- assuage
- berate
- bumptious
- cavalier
- circuitous
- consternation
- corpulent
- deleterious
- dilettante
- dither
- ennui
- erudite
- foist
- gallivant
- gauche
- gossamer
- heinous
- hyperbole
- innuendo
- inveigh
- lassitude
- magniloquence
- mawkish
- modicum
- nomenclature
- nonplussed
- pernicious
- petulant
- predilection
- proclivity
- prognosticate
- recapitulate
- salutary
- sanctimonious
- sangfroid
- scintillating
- seditious
- slovenly
- soporific
- supplicate
- surreptitious
- torpid
- turgid
- unctuous
- wheedle
- winsome
19th Century Modern 
Some of my favorite words are on that list! Heinous and corpulent are a coouple of “go-to” favs for me 🙂
I think sometimes re-enactors forget that people may have written in a formal way–take Louisa May Alcott for instance, but when the average person spoke they used slang and contractions, etc. You can see more of this in songs and folk stories. I don’t think Mark Twain invented lazy speech. lol
A most excellent point! I forget this frequently. It use to amuse my students with my propensity for using “SAT words and Dude in the same sentence.” It happens. Though I make a strict point not use my excited vernacular in my writing. It is also a bit of self training to erase some unprofessional quips from my lexicon and utilize more “SAT words,” least it present itself as a teachable moment.
Sometimes I feel a little dejected when I realize how often I let the word “like” enter my conversations! I would like to use the word bully–as in–That’s bully! but the kids tell me that would be utterly ridiculous and I don’t like to embarrass them too much–haha
Oh my goodness, I still I have an issue with saying “like.” It was horrid when I was in high school. My mother broke me of it, mostly, by counting how many times I would say it or pointing at me in mid-conversation. I was mortified, as a result I was quiet for about a year.
Haha! It’s really mortifying when you realize that you’ve picked up a youthful slang word or phrase and you’re no longer a youth. When people started saying, “I mean I was like–REALLY?” all the time I determined never to put those words together and then one day they tumbled out. Ugh. I admire you for trying to stay pure. Keep fighting the good fight! Bully for you!!
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