Word on the Street: Debunking the Myth of "Pure" Standard English
300 pages
|Published: 1 Jan 1998
|Editions
|Details
This edition
ISBN: 9780738204468
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Publisher: Basic Books
Publication date: 1 January 2001
Description
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.
