Figures of Speech: Six Histories of Language and Identity in the Age of Revolutions

At the turn of the nineteenth century, language was a crucial marker of identity, particularly among English-speakers, as it validated emerging national, racial, local, and regional identity categories. Tim Cassedy's study explores how six eccentric characters, including Princess Caraboo and Noah Webster, used language to shape their identities and lived out the possibilities of their linguistic ideas. This entertaining and informative book appeals to historians, linguists, and general readers interested in how ideas about English developed in the early United States and throughout the English-speaking world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 30 January 2019
Publisher: University of Iowa Press

At the dawn of the 19th century, language emerged as a powerful tool for shaping individual identities, particularly in the context of revolutionary movements (such as the U.S., French, and Haitian revolutions) and global interconnectedness. During this transformative era, language played a crucial role in categorizing people within a rapidly diversifying world. Linguistic differences, particularly among English speakers, were perceived as validating the emerging national, racial, local, and regional identity categories that emerged in the new world order.

In his captivating study, Tim Cassedy delves into the intricate role that language played during this pivotal period. Through the lens of six eccentric characters, including the enigmatic "Princess Caraboo" and the influential wordsmith Noah Webster, Cassedy explores how each individual embraced language as a central aspect of their identity and actively pursued the possibilities afforded by the linguistic ideas of their time. The result is a highly entertaining and informative exploration of how perceptions about language usage and pronunciation shaped communities in the British American colonies and beyond.

This engagingly written narrative appeals to a wide range of scholars and readers, including historians of literature, culture, and communication, linguists, and book historians. It sheds light on the development of ideas about English in the early United States and throughout the English-speaking world, providing valuable insights into the complex interplay between language, identity, and society. By examining the lives and linguistic choices of these remarkable individuals, Cassedy offers a fresh perspective on the role that language played in shaping the world at the turn of the 19th century.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781609386122