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The State of the Language

English Observed

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  • 192pagine
  • 7 ore di lettura

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Is the English language in decline? Many people seem to think so--but Philip Howard isn't one of them. The Literary Editor of The Times of London, Howard takes a robust, commonsensical view of the changes that are happening in English. His is not the Panglossian attitude that all isneccessarily for the best in the best of all possible languages, but he does feel that change is necessary--and healthy--in any living language.Howard here examines the language in its various branches and categories, such as grammar and pronunciation, spelling and punctuation, dialect and slang. He discusses the effect the new technologies, from cable TV to photocomposition, are having on the mother tongue, and he examines the newdialects that are coming into use. He navigates the back streets of euphemism and the broad, boring boulevards of cliche. He asks whether the language is actually changing as fast as we suppose, and, if so, why.Howard argues that as far as we can, we should strive to direct and control the changes in English in ways that increase its power. And where we can't help it, he says, we should lie back and enjoy its immense richness, which is unrivaled by any other language. Rather than have us wring ourhands, Philip Howard entreats us, with his customary with and erudition, to use our tongues in concert with our brains.About thePhilip Howard is the author of New Words for Old, Weasel Words, Words Fail Me, and, most recently, A Word in Your Ear.

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The State of the Language, Philip Howard

Lingua
Pubblicato
1986
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(In brossura),
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Prezzo
4,39 €

Metodi di pagamento

Titolo
The State of the Language
Sottotitolo
English Observed
Lingua
Inglese
Editore
Penguin UK
Pubblicato
1986
Formato
In brossura
Pagine
192
ISBN10
0140080864
ISBN13
9780140080865
Serie
Descrizione
Is the English language in decline? Many people seem to think so--but Philip Howard isn't one of them. The Literary Editor of The Times of London, Howard takes a robust, commonsensical view of the changes that are happening in English. His is not the Panglossian attitude that all isneccessarily for the best in the best of all possible languages, but he does feel that change is necessary--and healthy--in any living language.Howard here examines the language in its various branches and categories, such as grammar and pronunciation, spelling and punctuation, dialect and slang. He discusses the effect the new technologies, from cable TV to photocomposition, are having on the mother tongue, and he examines the newdialects that are coming into use. He navigates the back streets of euphemism and the broad, boring boulevards of cliche. He asks whether the language is actually changing as fast as we suppose, and, if so, why.Howard argues that as far as we can, we should strive to direct and control the changes in English in ways that increase its power. And where we can't help it, he says, we should lie back and enjoy its immense richness, which is unrivaled by any other language. Rather than have us wring ourhands, Philip Howard entreats us, with his customary with and erudition, to use our tongues in concert with our brains.About thePhilip Howard is the author of New Words for Old, Weasel Words, Words Fail Me, and, most recently, A Word in Your Ear.