Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation Of Language And Music And Why We Should, Like, Care - Softcover

McWhorter, John H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1592400841 ISBN 13: 9781592400843

Publisher: Gotham Books, 2004

Synopsis

Encourages readers to establish a boundary between an acceptable evolution of language and outright language misuse, predicting the consequences of the overuse of street English in today's writing, music, and society. By the author of The Power of Babel. Reprint. 20,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"'Fascinating... Generally persuasive and always entertainingly argued... An arresting thesis... McWhorter's...examples reflect a wide-ranging knowledge of popular culture, and he is full of odd, illuminating facts.'" (Independent)

"'Every generation believes that language is in decline, but Doing Our Own Thing argues that this time the concern is real... John McWhorter's...analysis is insightful, richly documented, and yes, eloquently written.'" (Steven Pinker)

From the Publisher:

Is the English language in decline? Is contemporary music a pale imitation of the musical riches of the past? John McWhorter argues in this provocative, controversial book that the legacy of the 1960's has caused us to value the verbal and the oral over the written forms of language and music, impoverishing our culture.

About this edition

• Publisher: Gotham Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1592400841
• ISBN 13: 9781592400843
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 276