A Question Asked – IOTW Report

A Question Asked

Saturday, 8 October 2022, 16:00 MJA Uncategorized 33

Our PHenry asks:

“If modern Americans like us were to sit about a table with Washington, Jefferson and Adams for a conversation would we even be able to communicate and understand one another? ”

33 Comments on A Question Asked

  2. English hasn’t changed that much. Can you understand what they wrote?

    Yes. Undoubtedly, yes.

    It has been determined that the southern accent is what a certain dialect of English sounded like. That that is where it came from.

    So, maybe southerners would feel at home talking to them and vice versa.

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  3. Maybe some definitions would need to be clarified. Like what the word ‘regulated’ meant back then doesn’t mean the same as it does now.

    See the second amendment for details.

    One thing I noticed when studying that period is that they drank all the time. So there’s also that similarity to today.

    See Nancy Pelousy for details.

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  5. The reason I asked is trying to work through a book written by an author who was born in 1821 about assassinated President McKinley and the sentences are long and awkward to read.

    Here’s a single sentence from the book.

    Here’s but a sentence from the book.

    More than once in his lofty career as President, the martyred McKinley was weary under the incessant strain, his anxieties and labors, his keen sense of responsibility and his unflagging disposition to be perfectly informed, but his enthusiasm for duty, and his enjoyment of work, and abiding sense of fidelity in accomplishing the tasks his public obligation imposed, cheered, revived and restored him, so that he emerged from the Herculean labors of four years firm and elastic in health, and each day that brought its burden of exacting service had its compensation in the reward of strength.

    Modern version? Dude was a stud and even though they beat his skinny ass down EVERY DAY. Bitch didn’t back down.

    I understood what the author was saying, but brevity was not his strong point

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  6. PHenry, in that context it would depend on the sort of person that was talking to them.

    The far left would not get them and might try to burn their houses down.

    Conservatives would get them because it is their ideas and take on the world that is trying to be conserved.

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  7. “Well-regulated” has not changed its meaning—it’s just fallen out of modern use.

    At the time the Bill of Rights was written, the personnel within a fighting force were broadly classified into regulars and officers. Therefore, a “well-regulated militia” (as opposed to a “well-officiated” one) is a militia that has a sufficient number of enlisted-level fighters to defend the homeland from attack.

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  8. DADof4

    There has been a major change in
    American sins then. One very big change.
    170 years ago all “English speaking” countries considered liberals to be FOLK WHO BELIEVED FREEDOM IS GOOD AND GOVERNMENT Is BAD. eg. Liberal party won in Australia about 12 years ago. 3 years later the government was 30% smaller.

    In 1905 Teddy redefined for Americans the term Conservative. Teddy said folk thinking government is bad and freedom is good are conservatives, “I’m a progressive!”

    These men would be very confused by current American versus 18the century American.

    In the 18th century all English speakers said CONSERVATIVES THINK OUR BETTORS SHOULD RULE US; FREEDOM IS BAD GOVERNMENT IS GOOD!
    To them Reagan would be a liberal and Bush a conservative. This change is so dramatic i think the conversations would be at best awkward for several days.

    American is the most dynamic languqge in world history. There have been many other changes; but not as profouned in terms of government as conservative/liberal.
    eg
    gay

    5

  13. I feel just the opposite. With their command of the English language, Felicity of expression, and both their enthusiasm and alacrity at which they practiced both the written and the spoken word, they would have gotten to the meat of the argument sooner and with more clarity than any of us could muster. But the scenario works better if we go back to their time. If they came to ours, they would be so disgusted by the state of our current affairs that they would hang us all on a sour apple tree.

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  19. “regulated” meant “self disciplined” & motivated to train regularly. Like Jeff Cooper always said – “Owning a rifle doesn’t make you any more a “rifleman” than owning a Steinway made you a concert pianist.” Perfect practice makes perfect.

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  20. How priceless would the look on their faces be when we told them that in our time men can have babies, nobody knows what a woman is, students can get their teacher fired because the class is too hard, and the youth of our generation feel entitled to free healthcare, free housing, and a livable wage. And status is given not to those that accomplish or do great deeds but by the color of their skin.

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  21. About 12-15 years ago when I did the deep dive into our real American history, I read so much primary material of Washington, Jefferson, and, especially, the Adams, that I started talking and writing in their style. It wasn’t intentional at all; just couldn’t help it. It was something like being immersed in a foreign language. One eventually understands the structure of speech in their time, the beautiful and wide-ranging application of our long-forgotten or misused English language. It’s a small example, but a lot of contracted words were not used: Is it not? instead of Isn’t it? There are very few writers and fewer speakers who use language with the same precision of placement, emphasis, and meaning, today. When one does happen upon someone who does use language in this way, there is no mistaking it. Larry Arnn, for example, speaks lyrically in the old style. The minister, Alistair Begg, also takes his time being precise. It’s lovely to listen to.

    I think I could hold my own in both understanding and in being understood with our Founders. The part I would have dire trouble with would be in waiting to be recognized. Women didn’t have standing in their time.

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  22. @Rich Taylor — It would be upon hearing this that John Adams would turn to Jefferson and say, “I told you so! I told you, you hadn’t thought all your idealistic clap-trap through! And now you get your wish, Tom. You know, the ‘tree of liberty’ and all that?!”

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  24. I think the readers and commenters here (for the most part) have a greater command of the English language and a better understanding of the issues and challenges of the American people than News talkers. And certainly much greater understanding of cause and effect of their electoral choices than people on the street.

    Case in point, tonight’s local newscast. They interviewed a woman at the gas pump and she was quite upset by the rising gas prices. She had driven from Virginia to New Jersey two weeks ago and prices have skyrocketed during that time interval.
    Did the reporter/interviewer ask her why she thought that prices had risen so meteorically in such a short time? Of course not.

    The next segment laid down ground fire for senior citizen Biden. It’s OPEC. It’s refinery problems. It’s Russia/Ukraine.

    Our media is largely responsible for cultivating an uneducated populace.

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  26. No offense to senior citizens intended.

    I be one. Offense was intended toward the dude occupying the White House presently.
    Drooling in his oatmeal, napping early and often.

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  27. It would also be fun to have a thread, preferably separately, on who is your favorite founding father and why. We can probably all agree that Jefferson was the most intelligent, Adams the most tenacious, and Madison the most prolific, but I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Ben Franklin. Like David in the Bible, Franklin was a great sinner but he understood human nature, probably better than anyone. Every endeavor in his life was at a hundred miles an hour. Not only did he put his money where his mouth was but his quest for self-improvement and for the betterment of those around him was insatiable. And his ability to tell a good yarn was unmatched until Samuel Clemens came along.

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  29. I don’t believe my intellect comes even close to matching theirs, nor do I have their courage. They were indeed especially brilliant men born at a special intersection in history for a special purpose. I’m pretty sure they would think we are imbeciles.

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  32. PHenry,

    That sentence reminds me of the way C.S. Lewis writes. I love his writing, but many don’t for the reason they can’t follow his thoughts with so many twists and turns in one sentence.

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