# Familiar Letters explained — English as She Is Spoke

> Chapter companion for English as She Is Spoke by Pedro Carolino.

## What happens

This chapter presents a collection of familiar letters written by notable figures such as Racine, Mothe, and Montesquieu, showcasing their personal correspondence and the linguistic absurdities that arise from imperfect translation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Linguistic Absurdity

The letters contain malformed English phrases such as 'what will to treat her beshop' and 'I know some thing more than to eat my soup', illustrating comical translation errors.

### Cultural Misunderstanding

The attempt to render French epistolary conventions into English results in nonsensical expressions, revealing a deep cultural gap.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator presents the letters without direct commentary, allowing the text to speak for itself.

### Senhor Pedro Carolino

Implied as the compiler or translator responsible for the peculiar English phrasing in these letters.

## Key lines

> My uncle what will to treat her beshop in a great sumptuouness, he was go Avignon for to buy what one not should find there, and he had leave me the charge to provide all things.

My uncle, intending to treat her bishop with great sumptuousness, went to Avignon to buy what could not be found there, and left me in charge of providing everything.

_The original text garbles the intended meaning through incorrect verb forms and word order._

> I have excellent business, as you see, and I know some thing more than to eat my soup, since I know do to prepare it.

I have excellent business, as you see, and I know more than just eating my soup, since I know how to prepare it.

_The phrase 'know do to prepare it' is a literal translation that distorts the intended meaning._

> So much happy that might be one’s self, one have not all theirs eases in this world.

However happy one might be, one does not have all their comforts in this world.

_The original misuses 'theirs' and 'eases', creating a confusing statement._

> Allow me, my dear abbot, who I remind me of your friendship.

Allow me, my dear abbot, to remind you of our friendship.

_The reflexive construction 'who I remind me' is grammatically incorrect in English._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-letters
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters