According to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary of Current English a frontier is a "part of a country bordering on another country". In the American English this word has one more meaning: in the past a frontier was the "farthest part of a country to which settlement has spread, beyond which there is wild or unsettled land" (352). So the language of the frontier is first of all the language of people who settled at the western frontier of United States. The settlers were plain people, backwoodsmen, most of them were illiterate and spoke a simple, substandard English, often even dialects that originated from their old fatherland (Sorbonne). That all influenced of course the language as the whole.
The language of the frontiersmen is well documented and can be an object of scientific studies thanks to tall tales, which were oral stories, before they were written down. So The Tall Tales of Davy Crockett can be a very rich source of examples of words and grammar rules used by people those days. It is also interesting to examine the characteristics of texts written in the beginnings of the 19th century.
Table of Contents
Introduction
About the tall tales
Exaggerations in metaphors and similes
Syntax
Grammar
Words
Spelling
Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the linguistic characteristics of "Tall Talk," a distinctive form of American frontier vernacular, specifically analyzing its usage in "The Tall Tales of Davy Crockett" from the 1839-1841 Nashville Almanac series.
- The historical context and oral origins of American tall tales.
- Linguistic analysis of non-standard grammar, syntax, and unique word formation (neologisms).
- The function of hyperbole, metaphors, and similes as literary tools for frontier humor.
- The relationship between regional dialects, illiteracy, and the development of non-standard spelling patterns.
- The role of cultural icons like Davy Crockett in shaping frontier literary identity.
Excerpt from the Book
Exaggerations in metaphors and similes
The story I have chosen Col. Crockett's Adventure with a Grizzly Bear (Lofaro 3-7) is about a fight between a huge grizzly bear and two men, Crockett and his Doughboy, a nigger. The bear attacks them, when they want to hunt buffaloes. Only Davy Crockett can rescue himself, his Doughboy dies and the bear drowns in the river. The tale is interesting not so much because of the adventure, but above all because of its exaggerated descriptions, metaphors and similes. When we read it, we simply have to agree with the following statement: "The metaphoric language of the almanacs, when it is at its best, has all the freshness of dawn" (Dorson XIII).
The whole story takes place in the Rocky Mountains near the "Little Great Small Deep Shallow Big Muddy River" (3). That river is the Missouri River, because it is often called "Big Muddy" (Wikipedia) and flows through the Rocky Mountains. The other epithets of the river are an invention of the storyteller. To describe it, he uses a row of opposite adjectives: little-big, great-small, deep-shallow. It seems illogical at the first glance, but the river is not the same in every place and at every time. It appears differently in different places where it flows and in different seasons.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Defines the frontier context and sets the objective to analyze the linguistic features of 19th-century Davy Crockett tall tales.
About the tall tales: Provides an overview of the oral history, folk heroism, and thematic humor inherent in frontier storytelling.
Exaggerations in metaphors and similes: Analyzes the use of absurd, vivid, and technical metaphors to build character imagery and humor in the selected text.
Syntax: Explores how the oral origin of these tales influences sentence structure, rhythm, and direct engagement with the reader.
Grammar: Examines non-standard grammatical relics, such as double negatives and inconsistent verb agreement, originating from earlier centuries.
Words: Discusses the creation of "Crockettisms" through neologisms, pseudo-Latin word building, and blends to emphasize frontier reality.
Spelling: Explains how phonetic spelling reflects the limited literacy of the period and the blending of regional English dialects.
Conclusion: Summarizes that while the language deviates from modern standards, its vivid humor continues to make it accessible and entertaining.
Keywords
Tall Talk, Frontier Literature, Davy Crockett, American Vernacular, Tall Tales, Linguistic Analysis, Dialects, Neologisms, Metaphors, Similes, Folklore, Backwoodsmen, Syntax, Grammar, Spelling
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the linguistic analysis of "Tall Talk," specifically the unique language, syntax, grammar, and vocabulary found in the 19th-century Davy Crockett tall tales.
What themes characterize the "Tall Tales" analyzed?
Key themes include the glorification of frontier heroes, hard life in the backwoods, humor derived from exaggerations, and the depiction of the American landscape and its inhabitants.
What is the research goal of this work?
The goal is to demonstrate how oral storytelling traditions and frontier life shaped a distinct, non-standard dialect in written literature.
Which linguistic methods are employed in the study?
The author uses descriptive linguistic analysis, comparing the text's grammar, syntax, and word formation against standard English and historical usage patterns.
What does the main body of the paper address?
The main body breaks down specific linguistic components: the role of metaphor, the impact of oral syntax, grammatical inconsistencies like double negatives, and the invention of new words.
Which keywords best capture the essence of this study?
Key concepts include Tall Talk, frontier vernacular, Crockettisms, folk literature, and the intersection of humor and linguistics in American history.
Why are the tall tales considered important for linguistic research?
They provide rare, documented evidence of how uneducated backwoodsmen spoke and how their oral traditions transitioned into written form during the 19th century.
How does the author explain the non-standard spelling?
The author argues that spelling was heavily influenced by phonetic pronunciation, regional dialects from the British Isles, and the general illiteracy of the frontier populations.
What is the significance of the term "Crockettisms"?
This term refers to the unique neologisms and language play found within the Crockett Almanacs, characterized by pseudo-Latin prefixes and descriptive exaggerations.
- Quote paper
- Katarzyna Paluba (Author), 2006, Tall Talk: The Language of the Frontier, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/82206
