A Plain Exposition of Book of Mormon English by Means of Short Questions and Informed Answers

Title

A Plain Exposition of Book of Mormon English by Means of Short Questions and Informed Answers

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2025

Authors

Journal

Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship

Pagination

107–120

Volume

63

Publisher

The Interpreter Foundation

Abstract

Because many questions have arisen regarding the discovery of real early modern influence in the dictated language of the Book of Mormon, some of these are considered and answered in this essay. The answers reflect insights from an exploration of the data that drove the conclusions published in previous papers. Numerous considerations independently indicate that the Book of Mormon was dictated in language that cannot be explained as a mere imitation of King James linguistic style, nor as Joseph Smith’s Yankee dialect. While the reasons for this and the processes that may have led to such results are open for debate, the implications of the data themselves cannot be lightly brushed aside.

Subject Keywords

Language – Early Modern English
Book of Mormon Translation
Stylometry
Smith, Joseph, Jr.
Grammar

Bibliographic Citation

Terms of use

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