Language Change - 18th century - Univeristy of Philadelphia graduation speech

Charge speech made to first ever graduates from University of Philadelphia.

1757

William smith, a ‘provost’, senior academic administrator.

Jaz and Ella

Pragmatics

• There were 12 students =wealthy.• 2 students were sons of the college

founders.• “gentlemen,” stating that ONLY MEN were

graduating.• 1757- just before the American Revolution.• Samuel Johnson’s English dictionary: 1755-• Noah Webster's American dictionary: 1806 • The speaker is a professor=educated

language.

Charge is a command: directive speech and

telling them to go out and change America to the America they want it to be: “you are prepared to perform it.”

Uses encouraging language: “Strength of passion,” “to live is a serious thing.” As they have educated world leaders “give your friends and country a Right to expect every Thing from you.”

Religious: “Valley of the shadow of death,” “rapture,” “path of virtue.”

Uses long S for ‘s’, but sometimes uses an

actual s for capitals and beginnings of words. Random punctuation “bowers of joy! many

will,” “oh” As they were using an English Dictionary, they

are few Americanisms “honor” Ct is linked: This is a ligature, it

was a print based ‘letter.’ They would have separate a ‘c’ and a separate ‘t’ but when mentioned together it would be used.

Random italics, no standardisation in font. “GENTLEMEN” and “EVERLASTING” ------ maybe used as a memory aid to remind

the speaker to pause for dramatic effect. Means ‘etc,’ we would frown upon using

this in written language, but they used it suggesting a lack of rigorous rules.

Big letter to begin text, still used. Paragraphs are used similarly.

Graphology

“Pause---a solemn pause--- at its portal”

“Praise-worthy”