The Language of the Mormon Pioneers
Book: The Language of the Mormon Pioneers
Author: George W. Givens
Publisher: Cedar Fort
Publishing Date: 2003
George W. Givens has compiled a fascinating guide to the language of the early Saints. This book will serve as a valuable resource for teachers, writers and those who love to read history. He opens with a summary of how language developed and grew in the United States in early times, and then discusses how this book was researched. The words come largely from the writings, letters and journals of early Saints, and he points out that these have largely survived because of the importance of these writers or their spouses. Therefore it is not a comprehensive guide to the way all spoke, but rather how the more educated wrote. This book is a treasure for those of us who love history. The definitions are mixed with quotes, stories and background information that make the book as enjoyable to read for pleasure as it is to use as a research tool.
Language makes regular changes and the writer of historical stories needs to know how language was used in the time period. For instance, the book notes that a grocery, in the time of our pioneers, was a liquor store, not a place to buy your food for the week. A toilet was one's style of dress. A budget was a little bag and its contents.
Planning a Pioneer Day celebration? Check out the games played by pioneer children, such as mumblety-peg and tippies. Cook up some pone or serve some parched corn. Set up craft tools such as a niddy noddy or a shaving horse.
George W. Givens, a popular teacher and speaker, is well-known for his explorations of LDS history. His other works include 500 Little-Known Facts in Mormon History, In Old Nauvoo, The Nauvoo Fact Book, and Out of Palmyra.
