Magazine
The Language of the Book of Mormon
Title
The Language of the Book of Mormon
Magazine
Improvement Era
Publication Type
Magazine Article
Year of Publication
1960
Authors
Barker, James L. (Primary)
Pagination
388–389, 444, 446, 450–454
Date Published
June 1960
Volume
63
Issue Number
6
Abstract
This article states that English, the language of translation employed by Joseph Smith, retains the original thought, personal writing styles, distinctive patterns, and unique phraseology belonging to each of the ancient writers and prophets of the Book of Mormon. Barker also discusses the language of the gold plates, which has been described as being a combination of the “learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians” (1 Nephi 12), and as “reformed Egyptian” (Mormon 9:32). Too little is known about the characters of reformed Egyptian, which had been “altered” by the Nephites (Mormon 9:32).
Subject Keywords
Bibliographic Citation
Terms of use
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