Forum: Historians and their Jargon
Roy Porter listens to the words historians use.
In the beginning were Words; which is just as well for historians, especially students of pre-photographic times. But, Clio's bane as well as life-blood, words are deceivers ever. Lies, irony, poetic licence, Orwellian 'newspeak' and Freudian slips all put us on our guard about what is down in black and white. Actions speak louder than words, we are reminded. Words aren't transparent, windows into souls, hearts and thoughts. Rather they are prisms, screens and filters, glasses we see through darkly.
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