# English as She Is Spoke — Themes

> Major themes in English as She Is Spoke by Pedro Carolino.

## Linguistic Absurdity

The book is a comedic masterpiece of mistranslation, where Portuguese-to-English phrases are rendered nonsensically, such as 'The stone as roll not heap up not foam' and 'To craunch the marmoset,' highlighting the chaos of language learning.

### Where it surfaces

- [Author's Preface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/author-s-preface): The author's own language is filled with malapropisms and awkward phrasing, ironically undermining his goal of teaching correct Portuguese.
- [English as She Is Spoke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/english-as-she-is-spoke): The entire chapter is built on absurd English phrases that result from poor translation.
- [Of the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/of-the-man): The list contains many nonsensical or mistranslated terms (e.g., 'Lochsmith', 'Spendth', 'Heuth-cock'), highlighting the absurdity of the author's language learning method.
- [Familiar Phrases](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-phrases): The chapter is a prime example of linguistic absurdity, with nonsensical translations like 'These apricots and these peaches make me and to come water in mouth' and 'This ink is white.'
- [Familiar Dialogues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-dialogues): The dialogues are filled with malapropisms and literal translations, such as 'It pinches me too much upon stomack' and 'comb-me quickly; don’t put me so much pomatum.'
- [Familiar Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-letters): 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 author's attempt to create a practical conversation guide results in bizarre and inaccurate representations of English culture, including odd vocabulary lists like 'Chinaman' as a trade and 'The quater-grandfather' as a family relation.

### Where it surfaces

- [Familiar Phrases](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-phrases): The phrases reveal a deep misunderstanding of English idioms and cultural norms, e.g., 'He laughs at my nose, he jest by me' and 'I have put my stockings outward.'
- [Familiar Dialogues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-dialogues): The author's attempt to render English phrases reveals deep confusion about idiomatic expressions and social norms.
- [Familiar Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-letters): The attempt to render French epistolary conventions into English results in nonsensical expressions, revealing a deep cultural gap.

## Humor in Error

The book's unintentional humor stems from its earnest but flawed execution, with phrases like 'I dead myself in envy to see her' and 'He has a good beak' providing amusement through their literal and absurd translations.

### Where it surfaces

- [English as She Is Spoke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/english-as-she-is-spoke): The errors in the guide are presented as a jest, highlighting the comedy in linguistic mistakes.
- [Familiar Phrases](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-phrases): The errors in phrasing and word choice create unintentional humor, such as 'He burns one’s self the brains' and 'I dead myself in envy to see her.'
- [Familiar Dialogues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/familiar-dialogues): The unintentional comedy arises from phrases like 'I have the teetht-ache' and 'your pens have any notches, and its spit.'
- [Anecdotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/anecdotes): The chapter is built on humorous misunderstandings and witty retorts, such as the countryman's reply about asses' heads and the blind man's light.

## Education and Authority

The preface and structure reveal a serious pedagogical intent, yet the book's errors undermine the authority of the author as a language instructor, satirizing the pretensions of educational texts.

### Where it surfaces

- [Author's Preface](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/author-s-preface): The preface positions the author as an authority correcting the deficiencies of previous language guides, targeting the youth as the primary audience.

## Social Hierarchy

The book includes extensive lists of social roles, trades, and dignities (e.g., 'General of an order,' 'A great admiral,' 'Gossip mistress'), reflecting a preoccupation with class and status in 19th-century society.

### Where it surfaces

- [Anecdotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/anecdotes): Stories like the English lord and the fake doctor, and the duchess accused of magic, highlight class distinctions and power dynamics.

## Everyday Life

Dialogues cover mundane activities like dining, dressing, and traveling, but the bizarre phrasing (e.g., 'Button me,' 'It pinches me too much upon stomack') turns ordinary interactions into surreal exchanges.

### Where it surfaces

- [Of the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/of-the-man): The extensive categorization of food, clothing, trades, and household items provides a glimpse into the material culture of 19th-century daily life.

## Folklore and Proverbs

The book includes a section of 'Idiotisms and Proverbs' with mangled sayings like 'In the country of blinds, the one eyed men are kings' and 'To buy cat in pocket,' blending folk wisdom with linguistic confusion.

### Where it surfaces

- [Anecdotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/anecdotes): The anecdotes function as moral tales and proverbial wisdom, e.g., 'the blind saw clearer than this that may have two eyes.'
- [Idiotisms and Proverbs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/idiotisms-and-proverbs): The chapter is entirely composed of proverbs and idiomatic expressions, showcasing traditional folk wisdom through distorted translations.

## Colonial and National Identity

The author addresses 'studious portuguese and brazilian Youth' and includes references to colonies, suggesting a context of Portuguese colonial influence and the desire to engage with English as a global language.

### Where it surfaces

- [Of the Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/chapters/of-the-man): The vocabulary includes terms related to Portuguese and English colonial contexts, such as 'Avis, advice' and 'Honour Legion', reflecting national symbols and hierarchies.

HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/english_as_she_is_spoke_se/themes