Book 21 - Robert Lane Greene "You Are What You Speak"

[jazzy_dave]

Robert Lane Greene "You Are What You Speak : Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity (Delacorte Press)





The subtitle of this book is: “Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity.” That is actually a pretty good summary of this book, which is a series of essays emphasizing linguists’ (including the author) views of language and some of the issues surrounding it.

I once heard a lecturer at university summer school many years ago (during my Open University days) when i say that the best kind of learning is learning about one’s self. If that’s true, You Are What You Speak provides the best kind of learning. An example: In my reviews, I can be quick to criticize professional writers who make silly mistakes in print when they should know better. I cringe every time I see “who” used when “whom” is correct (but seeing such mistakes doesn’t ruin my day). Reading Robert Lane Greene’s book has liberated me from being overly concerned about grammar. Even if the distinction between who and whom goes away, that’s just the way language has always evolved. Unless we want English to become a dead language, it will change and the world will go on spinning and orbiting around the sun. So, I’m going to lighten up and find something else to worry about.

I love the author’s writing style, his informed view of the politics of language, and all that he gives readers to think about. I got much more from You Are What You Speak than I could have expected or even imagined.

I also like that the author takes on some very popular writers on language including Lynne Truss (of Eats, Shoots & Leaves fame) in the chapter “A Brief History of Sticklers,” and Bill Bryson (who wrote The Mother Tongue) in the chapter “Babel and the Damage Done.” And he chides the English teachers who preached about not splitting infinitives or ending a sentence with a preposition as if those were really rules of English grammar. Shame on them!

Comments

[lilchiva.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Ill go check it out

[wantedonvoyage.livejournal.com]

My dad and/or sister would both likely enjoy that.

Here's one for you... when writing fiction, what do you do if you know your character would be more likely to use the incorrect word (thinking particularly of who/whom, but there are others)? At least on this side of the pond, people are less likely to say "whom" while speaking than they would writing, and I can't put "whom" in my barely-educated laborer's mouth, it just wouldn't happen.

[ba1126.livejournal.com]

I believe (as a constant reader) that characters should always speak in their style. A Chicago gangster of the 40's shouldn't sound like an English prof at Harvard. So long as terms are familiar to your reader (or are somehow explained by, say, another character) you are good to go.

[wantedonvoyage.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that makes sense. My other main character is ESL/European born so his speech is a little more stifled and leaning toward British terms, but I wondered about using grammar I knew was patently wrong. I agree that I should write as I hear him speaking in my head.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

True , no labourer would say "whom" but i have used it,hence marking me out as being more middle class god forbid.

[ba1126.livejournal.com]

Not many English teachers will say this, but Latin is a 'dead' language because it is not in use by the masses and therefore will never change. English is a living language, which means people will, in it's everyday use, cause changes.

[the-sharess.livejournal.com]

Grammar issues bother me less than when people try to over "pro-nun-ci-ate" works. There is a talk show host and every time she says the word "issues", she makes an over the top pronunciation of the word to make sure its pronounced 'correctly'. Whether she is correct or not, I don't care. I just wish she would say it the same way the rest of the world does." Is-sues" not "Is--ooz"

And most slang words or sentences don't bother me either but I HATE when people say "My bad." I want to reach up and slappity slap slap them. I don't know why it bothers me so much but it does.

I never knew that the spelling for "Allot" had two L's until I read a blog where the writer stated that every time she sees it with 1 L she mentally see's a monster she created in her head called the "A lot". lol. Ever since then I have spelled it with 2.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

More politics? EEP...
LOL........................
Hugs, Jon

[cactus_rs]

The fact that English is a living, changing language is something I always emphasize with my students. I point out the mistakes that are beginning to become normalized as usage changes ("who"/"whom" is a good example; the growing interchangeability of "that" and "which" is another one) but let them know there are other bugbears they should focus more on—saying you're boring versus you're bored, for example.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

Sounds like my sort of book...

;'

[pigshitpoet.livejournal.com]

i know. but sometimes i just can't help it..

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a fascinating book!