Looking for a website that rewrites letters & speeches by George Washington and others into modern language-?

Question

My daughter is reading and studying some of his speeches and letters and having to answer questions about them. Rest assured, she really has an appreciation for the speech of that time period, but we really want to dig into them more. We wanted to see if someone had put his speeches into current every day language. We found a "blog" where someone had translated his farewell address and it was helpful, but a little crude and out of character for George Washington. Anyone know of a site or even a book that has done this? I compare it to having different translations of the Bible for better understanding. While I still respect and appreciate the words, when I am studying, I understand them better in more modern language. I have asked this questions in different forums, hope I have better luck here.

Answer 1

Haven't found any other "translations," but perhaps a synopsis of each letter will help when reading them. I found a great site that lists most of Washington's papers - with brief descriptions. Hope it will be a good start
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/guidedisplay.pl?index=W000178

As a researcher and librarian, I work with primary sources a lot - they are tough to decipher; I try to take them in small bitesize pieces and make a game out of translating them. Pretty soon, as with foreign language study, I discover that I can read them more easily than I thought. Hang in there - it will improve.

Answer 2

Just have a good comprehensive college-level dictionary nearby. That can be your greatest aid.

And understand that a full appreciation of the language used by the upper classes in the late 18th century is nearly impossible: we simply don't have the same education, life experiences, or interest in language that Washington, Adams, and Jefferson did.

This is why Shakespeare, etc., is much more easily understood later in life, with more exposure to differing language uses and life itself.

People need to be exposed to good writing and deep thinking from the earliest possible age, but they won't get as much out of them as they will as adults.

Answer 3

With all due respect, the problem is with you and your daughter.

President Washington (as with the others of that time) wrote with excellent use of the language which was easy to understand at the time and in our time. At most is being aware of the exact meaning of specific proper nouns and with a few word meanings. For example, the meaning of the word gay has changed over time. That is why using a good dictionary (one with multiple word meanings as well as references to time specific meanings. To use a rewriting of past writings is to lose understanding.

The primary challenge is to not apply current biases to those times. For example, the Founders understood that for the citizen to be armed was a basic right not to be infringed on by government. Only in our current times have we converted that into something connected with militias.

Simply put, these early writings are easy to understand.