Not currently on display at the V&A

Grammatical Conversation or English Grammer Familiarised

Card Game
ca. 1790 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The teaching of languages, both foreign and native, was treated differently from the geographical and historical subjects. English grammar was inculcated by this game in which the cards are divided into two sets, one of questions and the other with answers. The answer cards are dealt, while one person, probably an older child or adult, holds the questions and key card. As each question is asked and answered correctly, the players relinguish their cards. Whoever is first to get rid of his or her cards wins. A gambling element could be introduced by having a pool and rewards and forfeits.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 62 parts.

  • Card Game
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  • Rules
TitleGrammatical Conversation or English Grammer Familiarised (manufacturer's title)
Brief description
Card and paper pack of question and answer cards published in England in about 1790
Physical description
Design: letterpress on card; sipcase label has an engraved pictorial label and lettered title.
DimensionsSize: 4in x 2½in x 7/8in - case
Object history
The teaching of languages, both foreign and native, was treated differently from the geographical and historical subjects. English grammar was inculcated by this game in which the cards are divided into two sets, one of questions and the other with answers. The answer cards are dealt, while one person, probably an older child or adult, holds the questions and key card. As each question is asked and answered correctly, the players relinguish their cards. Whoever is first to get rid of his or her cards wins. A gambling element could be introduced by having a pool and rewards and forfeits.
Historical context
Equipment required: 30 cards are printed with questions in red, 3 3/4in x 2½in
30 cards are printed with answers in black
sheet of letterpress rules giving key to answers.

Rules:
DIRECTIONS FOR PLAYING THE GRAMMAR CARDS, PACK III

The pack consists of 30 questions and as many answers.
The person who presides at the table must retain all the questions until the answer are dealt round, in equal numbers, to as many as sit down to play together, 2, 3, 5, 6 or 10 may partake on this amusement.
A pool must then be made, which being agreed upon, the holder of the questions must read out aloud any one of them and lay it on the table until the company have examined the answers they hold; and whoever plays the proper answer shall take a fine out of the pool; on the contrary if an improper answer is played, a fine must be put into the pool.
If it should to happen that the proper answer to the question laid down cannot be discovered by any of the players, they must then one and all agree to request the lady or gentleman who presides to refer to the key.
NB Whoever gets rid of their cards first by playing the right answers, wins the game.
Summary
The teaching of languages, both foreign and native, was treated differently from the geographical and historical subjects. English grammar was inculcated by this game in which the cards are divided into two sets, one of questions and the other with answers. The answer cards are dealt, while one person, probably an older child or adult, holds the questions and key card. As each question is asked and answered correctly, the players relinguish their cards. Whoever is first to get rid of his or her cards wins. A gambling element could be introduced by having a pool and rewards and forfeits.
Collection
Accession number
E.5306& 1 to 61-1960

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Record createdMarch 4, 2000
Record URL
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