19th century UK officialese Thread poster: Stephanie Jennings
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Hi. Can anyone recommend a website (or book) that gives examples of how formal, official letters were written in English in the 19th century? I am translating from European Spanish to UK English, and need to familiarise myself with that sort of language, especially the forms used for opening and closing letters. Even better would be to have them already translated from Spanish, with their English equivalent. I've looked but I can't find seem to find anything all handily one place! Many thanks in... See more Hi. Can anyone recommend a website (or book) that gives examples of how formal, official letters were written in English in the 19th century? I am translating from European Spanish to UK English, and need to familiarise myself with that sort of language, especially the forms used for opening and closing letters. Even better would be to have them already translated from Spanish, with their English equivalent. I've looked but I can't find seem to find anything all handily one place! Many thanks in advance.
[Edited at 2022-06-02 08:28 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | What is the translation for? | Jun 2, 2022 |
It may be better to use plain 21st-century English.
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Thanks philgoddard, but I wish to convey the feel and the spirit of the letters as much as possible, and I think that if I rewrote it all in 21st century English I would lose that completely (and I'd have to cut the whole text by half!) The letters are written by Spanish governors in colonial Philippines...
Thank you Tomoki, I have looked into this but the letters I am translating are all of an official nature so it's not quite what I need. But thanks anyway... ... See more Thanks philgoddard, but I wish to convey the feel and the spirit of the letters as much as possible, and I think that if I rewrote it all in 21st century English I would lose that completely (and I'd have to cut the whole text by half!) The letters are written by Spanish governors in colonial Philippines...
Thank you Tomoki, I have looked into this but the letters I am translating are all of an official nature so it's not quite what I need. But thanks anyway...
[Edited at 2022-06-02 14:33 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Barbara Carrara 
Italy
Local time: 02:37
Member (2008)
English to Italian
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| Shaun Usher's Letters of Note | Jun 2, 2022 |
The Letters of Note website, https://lettersofnote.com/ has a few, I believe, but you'll have to do a name or date search.
As an example, here's one from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra,
https://lettersofnote.com/2015/12/16/i-drank-too-much-wine-last-night/... See more The Letters of Note website, https://lettersofnote.com/ has a few, I believe, but you'll have to do a name or date search.
As an example, here's one from Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra,
https://lettersofnote.com/2015/12/16/i-drank-too-much-wine-last-night/
Not exactly formal, but very enjoyable and full of details and tittle-tattle.
Letters of Note is also available in both book and video form, the link to the LoN Playlist being https://www.youtube.com/c/LettersLive/featured
Even if you don't find exactly what you are looking for, it is well worth reading/listening to. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Barbara Carrara
Italy
Local time: 02:37
Member (2008)
English to Italian
+ ...
| The National Archives? | Jun 2, 2022 |
Stephanie Jennings wrote:
The letters are written by Spanish governors in colonial Philippines...
This is far too specific, which makes finding any examples online more difficult.
Style-wise, browsing the National Archives website might give you some pointers, https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Maybe.
Just an idea.
Good luck!
| | | | | Victorian Handwriting | Jun 3, 2022 |
many Google hits for 'Victorian Handwriting' (printable fonts and 'live' samples) hth
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Thanks also to the last two posters. National Archives is a good idea and I will take a look, if I have time at the end of all this! I have, though, found a couple of sources which have at least given me ideas for the sign-offs, for example, "I remain your most solicitous and certain servant"!!
Thanks again.
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| Qatar Digital Library | Jun 3, 2022 |
The Qatar Digital Library has a whole load of 'official' letters from the 19th century in English (but only a couple of translated ones in both English and Spanish). You can read them here
... See more
| | | | Mr. Satan (X)
English to Indonesian
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Thank you, Althea Draper, this is very much what I'm after. I'm sure I'll find inspiration there.
And thanks to everyone for all your suggestions.
| | | | | small update | Jun 11, 2022 |
Stephanie Jennings wrote:
"I remain your most solicitous and certain servant"!!
somewhere I read that the letter writing etiquette required the author to refer to him\her self in third person, 'Captain Jose remains your most solicitous and certain servant' ))
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