Articles
Lock Stock and Barrel: The influence of military terms from the 18th century in the daily discourse of your persona Roderick D. Redden August 5, 2010:
Contents:
Introduction
Chapter One: Influence of 18th century writers journals and diaries on written discourse
Chapter Two: The legacy of 18th century conflicts on spoken discourse in Canada The Louisbourg and Quebec campaigns The North Atlantic Cod fishery and Royal Navy influences.
Chapter Three: Spoken discourse involving military terms in outdoor recreation.
Chapter Four: The Discourse of traditional Atlantic Canadian music in relation to the army, navy and fishery.
Conclusion
References
Chapter Five Naval Terms and their meanings from Stockwin’s Maritime Misellany
Appendices B. Army Terms and their meanings from McNab’s Immediate Action
Appendices C Military terms and their meanings in Donald’s Stickers, Sideburns and Bikinis
Chapter Six: Songs of the military and fishery in relation to Eastern Canada.
Introduction: This study was originally written as a research paper for my MA in TEFL and Applied Linguistics in the summer of 2010. When I finished the paper and got a passing grade, I didn’t feel like deleting this from my files. Consequently, I have worked this article around the premise which I would like to help explain to new and old reenactors the language which could have been heard during the 18th century. In the world of military reenacting, naval and army terminology has permeated into everyday discourse. Idioms and phrasal verbs have been influenced by the military in our vocabulary and terms which are commonly found in our daily discourse while we are at historic events. In general, terms from the 18th century influenced the English language in Nova Scotia, Canada due to geopolitical events of the numerous global conflicts fought between Britain and France in Northeastern North America. Donald notes (2008. 6) that the human race has spent huge amounts of time, effort and resources in warfare. Consequently, many expressions from these endeavors have found themselves in daily discourse. Paltridge (2006. 55) makes note of illocutionary meaning, which we use in our spoken discourse, has a literal meaning or a meaning which goes beyond what someone has said. We can say something indirectly intending to communicate a different meaning. But as he argues (2006. 58) communication has to be done by the right person, place and at the right time with a specific intention or it will literally misfire. This term comes from the fact that flintlock muzzle loading firearms have a tendency to malfunction so in this case the term misfire is used in order to convey the message that if a listener is unable to comprehend what a speaker is saying, the whole point of a conversation can be lost. As part of written discourse, it is interesting to see how the author takes a verb from a military application to illustrate a concept of felicitous. Paltridge (2006. 87) also notes that a genre category is considered from the purpose of discourse, the context as well as the formality of the language and its use. As well, we have to consider the style of either spoken or written discourse.
Holmes (2008.184) makes note that when people belong to the same social group, they will share a similar pattern of speech, reflected from the person’s ethnicity or social status.
Robert L. Redden, commander and founding member of the Second battalion 84th Regiment, Royal Highland Emigrants is a retired army officer of the Canadian Armed Forces, and a former high school social studies teacher in Nova Scotia uses language from his activities in military reenacting, camping, hunting and trapping. In this sense, as Llamas and Stockwell (2010. 144) point out, Mr. Redden uses many military terms as his idiolect, which he would then share within his sociolect of veterans and reenactors. For the general public, the Falkland/Malvinas War of 1982, Donald (2008. 278) noted the influence of the term yomping and execorcet in daily discourse. With this in mind, historical events produced unique vocabulary for English spoken and written discourse. For reenactors, as part of our persona, we have to choose which type of speech we want to use while at public events. This could go either as authentic language which might have been spoken as seen by the interpreteurs in Jamesetown Virginia or to language which most probably would have been spoken by the persona you have chosen. When we dawn our uniforms or clothes, we become what these represent. In Julian Stockwin’s work, a constant source of friction for the main character is that despite the fact that he has become a professional Naval officer, in the society of the later 18th early 19th century, the idiolect which he uses is not compatible within his sociolect. In our own modern times, we could equate this to how we may view modern urban and rural society within Canada in that we can identify where a speaker is from based on their regional accent and their discourse.
The worst thing a reenactor can do is chat with others about their modern work while at rest. If members of the public are walking through our camps, overhearing members discussing a computer glitch, this will ruin the atmosphere we are trying to create.
Chapter One: The influence of 18th century writers journals and diaries on written discourse
Ostade (2008.247) notes that the way people spoke in the 18th century is difficult to know as the only known sources come from personal diaries and letters which members of the educated class wrote. However, we can gleam a glimpse of what they may have spoken from their spelling and grammar usage. Ostade (2008.250) notes that the postal system of the United Kingdom improved at this time which facilitated the ability for people living at great distances from one another to correspond via letter writing. She also goes on to argue (2008.251) social network models shows a potential for an analysis of linguistic change. Though it must be remembered that most of the people involved in these letters and diaries were members of the middle and upper classes as well as professionals in the clergy, fields of law and politics. As Ostade noted above of civilians writing in Britain, many first hand accounts of historical events were recorded by military officers on campaign. Chartrand (1999.73) makes note of James Wolfe’s journal entries throughout the Quebec campaign of 1759 while Reid (2003.16) shows how most of the eye witness accounts of the Quebec 1759 campaign come from the journals and letters of Captain John Knox, 43rd Regiment of Foot and General Townshend . From their writings, we can see how certain terms such as knapsack and tomahawk entered into the language due to soldier’s experience of fighting in the forests of Canada. Ostade (2008.264) notes the following words and terms which can be identified from the 18th century include heroism from Lady Montagu, to bother by Sheridan, the noun growl to Gray, dressing gown by Sheridan, pinafore to Burney and the words intolerance and atrociously from Lowth. Not only were educated civilians leaving written records of their work, but also army and naval officers were also making their mark so to speak. Prior to their enlistment in the King George’s Army, many Scottish highlanders were involved with the Jacobite rebellions of 1689-1746. Eyewitness accounts of the Jacobite army entering Edinburgh which Reid (1997.50) quotes a Patrick Crichton “I entered the town by the Bristo port, which I saw to my indingnation in the keeping of these caterpillars. A boy stood with a rusty drawn sword, and two fellows with things licke guns of the 16 centurie sat on each side the entry to the poors howse, and these were catching the vermin from their lurking places abowt ther plaids and throwing them away. I had reither seen it in the hands of Frenchmen but the divell and the deep blue sea are both bad” This quote is interesting in the fact that the spelling is not to standard of the time and the sailor’s terms being used. Within the quote, we can gather the meaning rather clearly, in that the speakers believe that the French or the Jacobites in possession of the city would both be in equally bad situations.
Davies (2005.33) notes that it was only during the 18th century that we begin to see English spelling becoming standardized due to the production of dictionaries, as well as grammar and punctuation guides becoming more readily available. Spencer notes, (2004.69) that as spelling was not standardized, within his own work he used modern methods so as to not conflict his audience.
Paltridge (2006.87) notes that we have to consider what genre a text falls into. What exactly is the purpose of a text, taking into account the content, the formality of the wording, how the language is being used the style or register of a text. All these factors can illustrate if a piece of discourse is spoken or written.
Bailey noted (2008.346) that by the mid 18th century, the idea that English would become a global language was taking shape. This was in part due to the success of the British Army and Royal Navy during the Seven Years War. With colonial and commercial expansion, English was fast becoming a dominant language in global affairs.
Chapter Two and the rest will follow in intervals, so stay tuned.
Introduction
Chapter One: Influence of 18th century writers journals and diaries on written discourse
Chapter Two: The legacy of 18th century conflicts on spoken discourse in Canada The Louisbourg and Quebec campaigns The North Atlantic Cod fishery and Royal Navy influences.
Chapter Three: Spoken discourse involving military terms in outdoor recreation.
Chapter Four: The Discourse of traditional Atlantic Canadian music in relation to the army, navy and fishery.
Conclusion
References
Chapter Five Naval Terms and their meanings from Stockwin’s Maritime Misellany
Appendices B. Army Terms and their meanings from McNab’s Immediate Action
Appendices C Military terms and their meanings in Donald’s Stickers, Sideburns and Bikinis
Chapter Six: Songs of the military and fishery in relation to Eastern Canada.
Introduction: This study was originally written as a research paper for my MA in TEFL and Applied Linguistics in the summer of 2010. When I finished the paper and got a passing grade, I didn’t feel like deleting this from my files. Consequently, I have worked this article around the premise which I would like to help explain to new and old reenactors the language which could have been heard during the 18th century. In the world of military reenacting, naval and army terminology has permeated into everyday discourse. Idioms and phrasal verbs have been influenced by the military in our vocabulary and terms which are commonly found in our daily discourse while we are at historic events. In general, terms from the 18th century influenced the English language in Nova Scotia, Canada due to geopolitical events of the numerous global conflicts fought between Britain and France in Northeastern North America. Donald notes (2008. 6) that the human race has spent huge amounts of time, effort and resources in warfare. Consequently, many expressions from these endeavors have found themselves in daily discourse. Paltridge (2006. 55) makes note of illocutionary meaning, which we use in our spoken discourse, has a literal meaning or a meaning which goes beyond what someone has said. We can say something indirectly intending to communicate a different meaning. But as he argues (2006. 58) communication has to be done by the right person, place and at the right time with a specific intention or it will literally misfire. This term comes from the fact that flintlock muzzle loading firearms have a tendency to malfunction so in this case the term misfire is used in order to convey the message that if a listener is unable to comprehend what a speaker is saying, the whole point of a conversation can be lost. As part of written discourse, it is interesting to see how the author takes a verb from a military application to illustrate a concept of felicitous. Paltridge (2006. 87) also notes that a genre category is considered from the purpose of discourse, the context as well as the formality of the language and its use. As well, we have to consider the style of either spoken or written discourse.
Holmes (2008.184) makes note that when people belong to the same social group, they will share a similar pattern of speech, reflected from the person’s ethnicity or social status.
Robert L. Redden, commander and founding member of the Second battalion 84th Regiment, Royal Highland Emigrants is a retired army officer of the Canadian Armed Forces, and a former high school social studies teacher in Nova Scotia uses language from his activities in military reenacting, camping, hunting and trapping. In this sense, as Llamas and Stockwell (2010. 144) point out, Mr. Redden uses many military terms as his idiolect, which he would then share within his sociolect of veterans and reenactors. For the general public, the Falkland/Malvinas War of 1982, Donald (2008. 278) noted the influence of the term yomping and execorcet in daily discourse. With this in mind, historical events produced unique vocabulary for English spoken and written discourse. For reenactors, as part of our persona, we have to choose which type of speech we want to use while at public events. This could go either as authentic language which might have been spoken as seen by the interpreteurs in Jamesetown Virginia or to language which most probably would have been spoken by the persona you have chosen. When we dawn our uniforms or clothes, we become what these represent. In Julian Stockwin’s work, a constant source of friction for the main character is that despite the fact that he has become a professional Naval officer, in the society of the later 18th early 19th century, the idiolect which he uses is not compatible within his sociolect. In our own modern times, we could equate this to how we may view modern urban and rural society within Canada in that we can identify where a speaker is from based on their regional accent and their discourse.
The worst thing a reenactor can do is chat with others about their modern work while at rest. If members of the public are walking through our camps, overhearing members discussing a computer glitch, this will ruin the atmosphere we are trying to create.
Chapter One: The influence of 18th century writers journals and diaries on written discourse
Ostade (2008.247) notes that the way people spoke in the 18th century is difficult to know as the only known sources come from personal diaries and letters which members of the educated class wrote. However, we can gleam a glimpse of what they may have spoken from their spelling and grammar usage. Ostade (2008.250) notes that the postal system of the United Kingdom improved at this time which facilitated the ability for people living at great distances from one another to correspond via letter writing. She also goes on to argue (2008.251) social network models shows a potential for an analysis of linguistic change. Though it must be remembered that most of the people involved in these letters and diaries were members of the middle and upper classes as well as professionals in the clergy, fields of law and politics. As Ostade noted above of civilians writing in Britain, many first hand accounts of historical events were recorded by military officers on campaign. Chartrand (1999.73) makes note of James Wolfe’s journal entries throughout the Quebec campaign of 1759 while Reid (2003.16) shows how most of the eye witness accounts of the Quebec 1759 campaign come from the journals and letters of Captain John Knox, 43rd Regiment of Foot and General Townshend . From their writings, we can see how certain terms such as knapsack and tomahawk entered into the language due to soldier’s experience of fighting in the forests of Canada. Ostade (2008.264) notes the following words and terms which can be identified from the 18th century include heroism from Lady Montagu, to bother by Sheridan, the noun growl to Gray, dressing gown by Sheridan, pinafore to Burney and the words intolerance and atrociously from Lowth. Not only were educated civilians leaving written records of their work, but also army and naval officers were also making their mark so to speak. Prior to their enlistment in the King George’s Army, many Scottish highlanders were involved with the Jacobite rebellions of 1689-1746. Eyewitness accounts of the Jacobite army entering Edinburgh which Reid (1997.50) quotes a Patrick Crichton “I entered the town by the Bristo port, which I saw to my indingnation in the keeping of these caterpillars. A boy stood with a rusty drawn sword, and two fellows with things licke guns of the 16 centurie sat on each side the entry to the poors howse, and these were catching the vermin from their lurking places abowt ther plaids and throwing them away. I had reither seen it in the hands of Frenchmen but the divell and the deep blue sea are both bad” This quote is interesting in the fact that the spelling is not to standard of the time and the sailor’s terms being used. Within the quote, we can gather the meaning rather clearly, in that the speakers believe that the French or the Jacobites in possession of the city would both be in equally bad situations.
Davies (2005.33) notes that it was only during the 18th century that we begin to see English spelling becoming standardized due to the production of dictionaries, as well as grammar and punctuation guides becoming more readily available. Spencer notes, (2004.69) that as spelling was not standardized, within his own work he used modern methods so as to not conflict his audience.
Paltridge (2006.87) notes that we have to consider what genre a text falls into. What exactly is the purpose of a text, taking into account the content, the formality of the wording, how the language is being used the style or register of a text. All these factors can illustrate if a piece of discourse is spoken or written.
Bailey noted (2008.346) that by the mid 18th century, the idea that English would become a global language was taking shape. This was in part due to the success of the British Army and Royal Navy during the Seven Years War. With colonial and commercial expansion, English was fast becoming a dominant language in global affairs.
Chapter Two and the rest will follow in intervals, so stay tuned.