Governing the tongue
Subtitle: the politics of speech in early New England
By: Jane Kamensky.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 1997
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 291
Subjects: English language -- Political aspects -- New England; English language -- Religious aspects -- Christianity; English language -- Spoken English -- New England; English language -- Dialects -- New England; Puritans -- New England -- Language; Language and culture -- New England; Oral communication -- New England; English language -- 18th century; English language -- New England; Americanisms -- New England; New England -- Languages
Description: Governing the Tongue explains why the spoken word assumed such importance in the culture of early New England. Author Jane Kamensky re-examines such famous events as the Salem witch trials and the banishment of Anne Hutchinson - as well as the little-known words of unsung individuals - to expose the ever-present fear of what the Puritans called "sins of the tongue." But if New Englanders despised some kinds of speech, they cherished others.

While they were enjoined to "govern" their tongues in daily life, laypeople were also told to lift up their voices "like a trumpet" when speaking to or of God. By placing speech at the heart of New England's early history, Kamensky develops new ideas about the relationship between language and power both in that place and time and, by extension, in our world today.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 203-280) and index.