In the last two days I have watched two Western movies that the critics lauded for using language like it really was in the ‘old west’, Somewhat Flowery, Formal, Polite and ‘Pointed’. (Bone Tomahawk and Appaloosa)
(Although in Appaloosa, Ed Harris’ character was often at a loss for the correct pronunciation of words he was trying to use, and had to ask his more well read Deputy (Viggo Mortensen) what the word he was intending to use.
I agree with your assessment of those flicks, and I would like to offer for your perusal Ripper Street, a BBC TV series depicting a post Jack the Ripper Victorian era Whitechapel starring Matthew McFadden.
The language is wonderfully erudite and formal, and even the poorly educated “lower” classes display a fine command of the English language, and most of them copiously interspace their utterances with religious and biblical quotes, asides, and allusions.