English as She Is Spoke · Chapter
Of the Man explained
This chapter presents an extensive vocabulary list organized by categories such as body parts, defects, trades, objects, food, animals, plants, games, church items, military terms, and more, reflecting a systematic but often erroneous attem
What happens
This chapter presents an extensive vocabulary list organized by categories such as body parts, defects, trades, objects, food, animals, plants, games, church items, military terms, and more, reflecting a systematic but often erroneous attempt to catalog the world in English.
Themes in this chapter
Linguistic Absurdity
The list contains many nonsensical or mistranslated terms (e.g., 'Lochsmith', 'Spendth', 'Heuth-cock'), highlighting the absurdity of the author's language learning method.
Colonial and National Identity
The vocabulary includes terms related to Portuguese and English colonial contexts, such as 'Avis, advice' and 'Honour Legion', reflecting national symbols and hierarchies.
Everyday Life
The extensive categorization of food, clothing, trades, and household items provides a glimpse into the material culture of 19th-century daily life.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator compiles a vast list of English words and phrases, demonstrating a methodical but flawed approach to language learning.
- Senhor Pedro Carolino
As the author of the guide, Pedro Carolino is responsible for the vocabulary list, which contains numerous errors and absurdities.
Key passages
“Of the Man The Brain The inferior lip The brains The superior lip The fat of the leg The marrow The ham The reins”
Parts of the human body, including the brain, lips, leg fat, marrow, ham, and kidneys.
The list begins with body parts, mixing correct and incorrect anatomical terms.
“Defects of the body A blind A left handed A lame An ugly A bald A squint-eyed A deaf”
Physical impairments and traits: blind, left-handed, lame, ugly, bald, squint-eyed, deaf.
The author lists physical defects in a simplistic and sometimes offensive manner.
“Trades Starch-maker Porter Barber Chinaman Coffeeman Founder Porkshop-keeper Grave-digger Cartwright Tradesman Tinker, a brasier Stockingmender Nailer Lochsmith”
Occupations: starch-maker, porter, barber, Chinese person, coffee seller, metal founder, pork shop keeper, grave digger, cartwright, tradesman, tinker/brasier, stocking mender, nailer, locksmith.
The list of trades includes both common and unusual jobs, with 'Chinaman' reflecting racial stereotyping.
“Objects of man The boots The lining The buckles The clogs The buttons-holes The wig The buskins The morning-gown, night-gown”
Men's items: boots, lining, buckles, clogs, buttonholes, wig, buskins, morning gown, night gown.
Clothing and accessories for men are listed, with some terms like 'buskins' being archaic.
“Woman objects The busk The paint or disguise The sash The spindle The cornet The patches The pumps The skate”
Women's items: corset busk, makeup or disguise, sash, spindle, cornet, patches, pumps, skate.
The list mixes clothing, cosmetics, and tools, with 'skate' possibly referring to a type of shoe or fish.
“Servants Coochmann Spendth Running footman Business-man Groome”
Servants: coachman, spendthrift, running footman, businessman, groom.
The term 'spendth' appears to be a mistranslation or error for 'spendthrift'.