Language MythsA unique collection of original essays by 21 of the world's leading linguists. The topics discussed focus on some of the most popular myths about language: The Media Are Ruining English; Children Can't Speak or Write Properly Anymore; America is Ruining the English Language. The tone is lively and entertaining throughout and there are cartoons from Doonesbury andThe Wizard of Id to illustrate some of the points. The book should have a wide readership not only amongst students who want to read leading linguists writing about popular misconceptions but also amongst the large number of people who enjoy reading about language in general. |
Contents
The Media are Ruining English | |
English Spelling is Kattastroffik | |
Women Talk Too Much | |
Some Languages are Harder than Others | |
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Common terms and phrases
Aboriginal accent American areas associated become believe British called Cambridge cent century claim clear comes communication consider consonants contexts course culture develop dialects difficult discussed distinctions double Elizabethan endings English evidence example expression fact Figure French functions further German girl give grammar idea interested kind language Latin less letters linguistic listeners logic London look mark meaning measure Michigan mountain myth nature negatives never nouns object particular patterns perhaps person political possible present Press question reason recent refers regional rules seems sentence simple social society sometimes sounds Sources South southern speakers speaking speech Spelitzian spelling spoken standard status structure studies talk things types University usually varieties verb vocabulary vowel women words writing