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February 24, 2006

How did Mark Twain Sound When He Swore?

The Mark Twain news group has been discussing two interesting questions. First, is there a recording of Mark Twain's voice? And Second, since he often made reference to swearing, exactly what did he say when he swore?

About a recording of his voice, there is nothing extent that is without doubt a recording of his voice. Thomas Edison did record Twain's voice but those recoding were lost in a fire. Rumors of other recordings come up from time to time but nothing has ever been verified. A recording at Yale is generally thought to be that of a mimic who perhaps knew Twain. The simplest answer is that there are no recordings of Twain's voice.

The second question also lacks a very satisfying answer. Mark Twain said a lot about swearing but, in keeping with the spirit of his times, he never used the actual swear words in his writings. Nor did anyone who might have been is a position to quote him. He did leave us several well known quotations on the subject. Among them, I find these of special interest.

Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer. - Mark Twain, a Biography

All through the first ten years of my married life, I kept a constant and discreet watch upon my tongue while in the house, and went outside and to a distance when circumstances were too much for me and I was obliged to seek relief. I prized my wife's respect and approval above all the rest of the human race's respect and approval. I dreaded the day when she should discover that I was but a whited sepulcher partly freighted with suppressed language. I was so careful, during ten years, that I had not a doubt that my suppressions had been successful. Therefore, I was quite as happy in my guilt as I could have been if I had been innocent. - Mark Twain's Autobiography

There ought to be a room in every house to swear in. It's dangerous to have to repress an emotion like that. - Mark Twain, a Biography

But what would he have said in the special room. No one knows for sure. But if you want an idea, one of the participants in the discussion, Mike Williams, has a suggestion.

19th century mining towns were rather vulgar. They had the same swear words we have, along with the more antiquated phrases ("balderdash" and such).

And then he directs us to A 19th Century Slang Dictionary compiled and edited by Craig Hadley. I just may start using some of the words that are not in our current vocabulary or have considerably different meanings today. Bloody Blazes, I'll give you Jesse if you don't like it, you scallywag. On second thought, it just doesn't seem to have the properly nuanced impact.

Posted by Duane Smith at February 24, 2006 9:42 AM | Read more on Mark Twain |

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Comments

No, that seems quite full of expression to me

Posted by: Dr.GH at March 1, 2006 10:59 PM

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