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FATHER’S DAY BAFFLEMENT
When I had an exalted position with AT&T, I would refer baffling questions to my secretaries. Three of those secretaries remain in touch and I would probably refer my current Father’s Day bafflement to them. Those three are Althea Scheller, Pat Impellizari, and Lorraine Grant Murray. My first bafflement has to do with the term,…
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ENGLISH LINGUA FRANCA
In the spring of 1942, I made my first attempts to join the American Army. This essay has nothing to do with army life but rather it has to do with language. At that time, in 1942, the lingua franca of the world was French. The language of diplomacy was conducted in French, which accounted…
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THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AGAIN
From time to time in Ezra’s Essays, I have commented upon changes in the English language that have impressed me. There are a good many that do not impress me. Today’s essay largely has to do with those that don’t impress me. There are four words that I might cite as reasons for writing this…
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CATTYWAMPUS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE THOUGHTS
This does not purport to be a definitive essay on the English language. It is simply an interim report on the current usage of the language as well as one reference to a word that has ancient connections. These days I am obliged to hold onto a sighted person leading me about. This is not…
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BASTARDS LIKE ME
I guess that I am finally cornered. I will have to admit that I am a Democrat and that I subscribe to the liberal wing of that party. Today that is called the progressive part of the Democratic Party. But as I progress into my 88th year, and this is being dictated on the Christian…
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ABIDING CONCLUSIONS
The title to this essay is a very practical one. The “abiding” part has to do with some thoughts that have remained in my brain for the better part of 80 years. The “conclusion” part has to do with these statements which allow no room for debate. And, finally, you will be surprised to know…
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A FEW WORDS ABOUT READING AND LISTENING
For reasons unknown to me, I have been a voracious reader from the time Miss Brantley rescued me from the girls’ room. I have told the story before but perhaps it bears repeating. On my first day in school in the Forsythe School in Clayton, Missouri, I felt the need to relieve myself and walked…
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MORE ON THE MOTHER TONGUE
Whenever I dictate an essay about language, I specifically mean English, which always recalls the words of Sven Lernevall who observed, “The English language is a very rich one.” I will try to add three words that will increase its richness. Two of them are of modern vintage. The third one goes back to my…
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THE LANGUAGE OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS AGAIN REVISITED
It goes without saying that your Uncle Ezra has no to investigate the subject of the language that Americans speak. Yet while I lack the academic credentials, as a wordsmith from my essay writing I have an abiding interest in words. In this case, there are four words that have fallen into disuse that I…
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A REVISIT TO THE LANGUAGE OF THE ANGLO-SAXONS
Sven Lernevall is my long-time friend from Sweden. From all appearances, Sven speaks the Swedish language with great proficiency. I will have to rely on expert witnesses whom I trust to testify to Sven’s use of the Swedish language. Beyond that, Sven and his wife Ella speak an elegant brand of the English language. On…