Word On The Street: Debunking The Myth Of A Pure Standard English

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Basic Books, 2000 - Language Arts & Disciplines - 294 pages
Though there is a contingent of linguists who fight the fact, our language is always changing--not only through slang, but sound, syntax, and words' meanings as well. Debunking the myth of "pure" standard English, tackling controversial positions, and eschewing politically correct arguments, linguist John McWhorter considers speech patterns and regional accents to demonstrate just how the changes do occur. Wielding reason and humor, McWhorter ultimately explains why we must embrace these changes, ultimately revealing our American English in all its variety, expressiveness, and power.

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Contents

Introduction
1
Lava Lamps and Language
35
The Speech Error Hoax
61
Is You Is or Is You Aint a Language?
127
Black
155
Black English in
201
As We Travel On
263
Sources
273
Pronouns and
276
Acknowledgments
283
Copyright

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About the author (2000)

John McWhorter is Assistant Professor of Linguistics at the University of California at Berkeley. A specialist in pidgin and Creole languages, he lives in Oakland, California.

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