Manuscripts Research Tutorial: Using

Language

Language can be a hurdle as you research primary sources, but deciphering words and word usage can also greatly contribute to your understanding of the materials and their origins. Language can help you recognize:

the social and cultural background of the author;
the geographic origin of the materials and/or author;
the time period during which the materials were created;
the mood of the time and place as the author sees it; and
the attitudes, values, and views of the authors.

You will probably come across words or phrases that are unfamiliar to you, but there may be reference sources to help you decipher the content.

Language Concerns	Tips	Examples
Foreign Language Materials created in languages other than English. Foreign words and/or phrases interjected in English language materials.	Consult foreign language dictionaries, grammar books, or electronic translators. Consult English language dictionaries for commonly used foreign words or phrases. Consider getting help from someone fluent in the language.	"Lagniappe" -- Something given over and above what is purchased, earned, etc. A common term for "extra" used in Louisiana.
Out-of-Use Words or Phrases Words and figures of speech that are no longer used in modern language.	Consult contemporary, specialized, or etymological dictionaries. Consult appropriate reference works such as Loose Cannons and Red Herrings: A Book of Lost Metaphors. Examine the word or phrase within the context of the document.	"Doughface"-- A Northern Congressman who did not oppose slavery or its extension and favored the Confederacy. (Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, ed. By J.E. Lighter, 1994.)]
Changes in Meaning Over Time Word usage and meaning can change over time.	Consult contemporary, specialized, or etymological dictionary. Consult appropriate reference works such as the Dictionary of Changes in Meaning Examine the word or phrase within the context of the document.	In 1880, "hearse" meant "a gloomy or pessimistic person." In 1892, "hearse" meant "a police patrol wagon" or "an old car." In 1930, "hearse" meant the caboose of a train. Today, "hearse" commonly means "a vehicle for transporting the dead to the grave." (Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang.)
Slang Marked by informal and/or non-standard vocabulary.	Consult appropriate slang dictionaries such as English Slang in the Nineteenth Century, or Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang.	In Southern culture, "honky-tonks" or "honkies" were names applied to roadside taverns located on the outskirts of towns where rural southerners came for music and recreation.
Accents/Dialects A language and/or pronunciation that are particular to a group of people based on geography or social factors.	Read and/or listen to materials multiple times to get accustomed to the language. Consult an appropriate reference work based on the accent or dialect in question, such as a Creole-English dictionary or Tarheel Talk : An Historical Study of the English Language In North Carolina to 1860.	In nineteenth-century Southern dialect, adverbs were applied in a different manner than conventional English. The "ly" suffix used in conventional English for many adverbs was frequently dropped and the word "right" often preceded the adverb. For example: "I was feeling right bad." In other cases an "ly" might be added to adverbs such as fine. For example: "the plants came on finely."
Regionalisms An expression or custom that is particular to a geographic region.	If possible, try to consult with someone from the geographic area you are researching. Try to understand the unfamiliar expressions within the context of the materials. Consult specialized reference sources such as Encyclopedia of Southern Culture.	New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf south celebrate "Mardi Gras" before the start of the Catholic Lenten season. Celebration is characterized by weeks of parades and bacchanalia. In Atlanta, someone referring to the "Dirty Birds" is referring to the Atlanta Falcons football team.