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Overview"""The deathwatch over American English has begun again,"" writes Harvey A. Daniels who, basing his arguments on data from professional linguists and language historians, proves that there is no reason to panic over the fate of the mother tongue, noting that ""reports of the death of the English language are greatly exaggerated."" Critics who zero in on the deteriorating state of the language ignore larger, more basic issues. Further, they ""threaten to bring back old--or inspire new--teaching curricula and techniques which will hinder rather than enhance our children's opportunity to develop their reading and writing and speaking skills."" Paradoxically, those critics who claim overreaching importance for the language tend to trivialize the study of language ""through their steadfast preoccupation with the form of language."" These critics ""encourage us to continue using minor differences in language as ways of identifying, classifying, avoiding, or punishing anyone whom we choose to consider our social or intellectual inferior."" Daniels refutes the idea that a literary crisis rages throughout the United States. He discredits the idea of the deterioration of language. In support of his conclusions, he marshalls the forces of history, showing that panics concerning the state of the language have occurred at regular intervals at least since 2400B.C. Using the data and tools of the linguist, Daniels asserts that language cannot die, that it changes constantly, and that attitudes toward language are social attitudes. Having established this point, he discusses at length our diminished prejudices against certain nonstandard dialects, our befuddled and uncompromising attempts to teach writing, the complex difficulties facing English teachers as the ""crisis"" enters its second decade, and the prospects for developing some respect for linguistic pluralism in America." Full Product DetailsAuthor: Harvey A. DanielsPublisher: Southern Illinois University Press Imprint: Southern Illinois University Press Dimensions: Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 22.90cm ISBN: 9780809310937ISBN 10: 0809310937 Pages: 304 Publication Date: 01 February 1983 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: Temporarily unavailable  The supplier advises that this item is temporarily unavailable. It will be ordered for you and placed on backorder. Once it does come back in stock, we will ship it out to you. Table of ContentsReviewsAuthor InformationHarvey A. Daniels is Associate Professor of Education at Rosary College, River Forest, Illinois. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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