The Way We Talk Now: Commentaries on Language and Culture from Npr's Fresh Air

by Geoffrey Nunberg

Book Overview

This engaging collection of National Public Radio broadcasts and magazine pieces by one of America's best-known linguists covers the waterfront of contemporary culture by taking stock of its words and phrases. From our metaphors for the Internet ("Virtual Rialto") to the perils of electronic grammar checkers ("The Software We Deserve"), from traditional grammatical bugaboos ("Sex and the Singular Verb") to the ways we talk about illicit love ("Affairs...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618116036
• ISBN13: 9780618116034
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Breath of Fresh Air in the Field of Linguistics

_The Way We Talk Now_ is one of those rare masterpieces that appeals to both the scholar and the layman. In this compilation of radio essays on a variety of subjects, Geoffrey Nunberg looks at the American culture and its institutions - and the way we verbalize in regard to, and as a result of, them - with an eye that is as incisive as it is witty.Indeed, for a linguist of such repute, Nunberg is engaging and warm, and his essays are as enthralling as they are enlightening. In fact, for those individuals who have always seen the study of linguistics as a highly specialized field of study appreciated only by intellectuals who are as boring as their reading, this will be an enormously pleasant shock. More than a collection of entertaining essays, however, the value of The Way We Talk Now lies in Nunberg's constant and unrelenting prodding and encouragement of the reader to look at himself within our cultural and institutional contexts - via the medium of verbal self-expression. Whether discussing the flap over inner city dialects being taught in school, the moral and aesthetic qualities imparted to the English language by purists, the camaraderie of radio call-in talk shows, or the evolving perception of cults within our society, Nunberg relentlessly brings the reader to examine his own communication. Invariably, the realizations that accompany this self-analysis - both voluntary and involuntary - are as enlightening as they are surprising.Profound without being incomprehensible, simple without being shallow, packing its weight in engaging scholarly content, and a springboard for continued self-analysis and more effective self-expression, this jewel of humor and insight is both a credit to Nunberg's skill and a welcome breath of fresh air. Above all, this is a book to be read as much for learning as for enjoyment. - Benjamin Gene Gardner

Witty and Insightful

This collection of short, pithy pieces from linguist Geoffrey Nunberg's public radio broadcasts on "Fresh Air" explore a broad range of topics, from country music to the French Revolution, from teen speak through the ages to the euphemisms of all the 'isms. But mostly he explores the evolution of popular culture as revealed in the way we use words.Humorous, witty and engaging, Nunberg's breezy pieces show a remarkable depth of research and thoughtfulness in posing such questions as why movies have given us so many memorable phrases and television so few, and how we choose names for our children. He number crunches all the words at the Republican convention into five sentences, explores the history and longevity of slang, the emotional power of words, the evolution of meanings.Insightful and enjoyable, these soundbites help us see how language reflects us, as we are and as we prefer to see ourselves.

A treasure trove for language lovers

I could have read this book in one sitting but had to pace myself so that I would still have some of it to read. Geoff Nunberg is a masterful user of the English language. His knowledge is vast; his references include corporations, television, movies, sports, teenagers, history, psychology, myths, and literature. He throws in words and phrases in French, German, Yiddish, Latin, and Italian as naturally as he speaks English. This book will have a place on my shelf along with those by Richard Lederer, William Safire, Edwin Newman, and John Ciardi.

Fun Stuff for Language Lovers

Language lovers of all kinds will enjoy Nunberg's wit and insight. I thoroughly enjoyed his observations, etymologies, analogies, and often humorous commentary of modern English usage. Linguists are, by necessity, sticklers -- yet Nunberg refuses to give credence to arbitrary rules and is more than willing to accommodate the inevitable shifts in our language. He even defended the use of one of my favorite expressions: "Whatever!" According to Nunberg, it "signals your sublime indifference to whatever your interlocutor is trying to say to you." And yet I couldn't agree more when he chafes at trendy corporate communication -- everything from "thought leadership" to PowerPoint. It's all great fun. This is one book I won't be passing on to others. I'll be enjoying it myself for years to come.

STIMULATING, FUN, ORIGINAL STUFF!

I've long been a fan of Geoff Nunberg's pieces on NPR's "Fresh Air," and even so was surprised at how delightful it was to sit down and read them, collected, in order of appearance. Each piece feels as fresh as the day it aired. I have friends who have for years gotten Nunberg's pieces off the net to read aloud at their monthly dinners--this collection is a gold mine for them. Fun, challenging, stimulating stuff. Hugely recommended.