Word On The Street: Debunking The Myth Of A Pure Standard EnglishThough 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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... singular pronoun. Sentences like Tell any student that he can drop two classes are now rightfully considered sexist, but the result has been an everclumsier procession of forced alternates, such as the stiffbacked and still sexist he or ...
... singular pronoun. Sentences like Tell any student that he can drop two classes are now rightfully considered sexist, but the result has been an everclumsier procession of forced alternates, such as the stiffbacked and still sexist he or ...
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... singular, form. Here is one scholar ranting about English falling apart: Is he not a Novice and unmannerly, and an Ideot and a Fool, that speaks You to one, which is not to be spoken to a Singular, but to many? O Vulgar Professors and ...
... singular, form. Here is one scholar ranting about English falling apart: Is he not a Novice and unmannerly, and an Ideot and a Fool, that speaks You to one, which is not to be spoken to a Singular, but to many? O Vulgar Professors and ...
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... singular (she sings), an odd, serendipitous choice as language change goes. If English could develop again, either there would be no endings on verbs in the present tense at all by now, or a single one would be preserved on some other ...
... singular (she sings), an odd, serendipitous choice as language change goes. If English could develop again, either there would be no endings on verbs in the present tense at all by now, or a single one would be preserved on some other ...
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Word On The Street: Debunking The Myth Of A Pure Standard English John Mcwhorter Limited preview - 2000 |
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