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JUST WORDS
A good many years ago, Will Rogers, the noted American humorist, said of himself, “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” Judging by the time it has taken to nominate the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate, it appears that Will Rogers probably had it right. At this point, we…
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Un: THE NEW NEOLOGISM
Yesterday, which was Maundy Thursday in the Christian calendar, was marked by a dispatch from Mosul, Iraq, filed by a New York Times reporter named Solomon Moore. In an effort to dispel the forces that oppose our holy mission in Iraq, Solomon Moore reports that there have been “several stepped-up attacks” on suspected insurgent hangouts.…
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THE LANGUAGE OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS
My eighth-grade teacher was a plump woman who would have been greatly pleased if someone had mistakenly identified her as an English poet. She wore shoes that went out of style after the First World War and she loved to read from her book of poems by English poets. Beyond that, Miss Maxwell loved the…
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THREE LITTLE WORDS
I am well aware that there is a song called “Three Little Words” whose lyrics have to do with amorous adventures. The three little words that have been roving around in my intellect have nothing to do with love or marriage. The three little words in this essay include a new word called “incentivizing.” Then…
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IT AIN’T NATURAL
For a short time, I have debated between the current title of “It Ain’t Natural” and another title, “Ez-ree Revisited.” But in the end I selected the title of the business about naturalness. There is a certain amount of nostalgia in this essay because it has to do with the original Ezra, my father. Ezra…
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PRESENTLY AND/OR THIS-A-WAY
This essay on the English language was inspired by a preposterous source. The someone who inspired this essay departed this vale of tears more than 51 years ago and was generally known as my father. He was a laconic man who used country speak to convey his thoughts to the outside world. Country speak is…
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TRANSPARENCIES, LEMMINGS, AND DITTOS
At heart, this essay is about politicians and those who make their living from political commentary. Politicians and those who comment about political events are quick to seize upon a new comment which becomes the comment du jour for several days. The favorite word that is the fad these days is “transparent” or “transparencies.” When…
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I DECLARE
If my mother had lived, she would now be 131 years old. But of course she didn’t live. Curiously as I grow older I am given to thoughts about my mother. I suppose we enjoyed a normal relationship as much as could be expected under the circumstances. My mother came from Golconda in Pope County,…
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YOU KNOW AND ON ME
As I have told you on several occasions, my friend Sven Lernevall, a resident of Stockholm, often told me that “English is a rich language.” Listening to the President of the United States who speaks extemporaneously, he frequently resorts to the words, “you know.” The fact of the matter is that I don’t know. If…
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TRANSLATING DAVID BROOKS
David Brooks is a scholar in his mid fifties who writes a twice-weekly column for The New York Times. Brooks is also a frequent guest on television shows. It is clear that Brooks has a background of being a teacher, a lecturer and a scholar. A year or 18 months ago, Mr. Brooks was an…