Hacks & Hookers & Putting Up PicklesHacks and Hookers and Putting Up Pickles: Snares of Yesteryears' English
Our ancestors used a vocabulary based on where they lived, when they lived there, and what they did. Their words reflect a world of skills, tools, apparel and customs that no longer exists. So, the written records of any particular place and time and family contain lots of words that are unfamiliar to 21st-century researchers. Deciphering the informational content of old records poses a challenge. Misinterpreting small words can lead to big mistakes. This entertaining lecture explores ways to arrive at an accurate understanding of what the old records really say. |