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Hardcover Strictly Speaking: Will America Be the Death of English? Book

ISBN: 0672519909

ISBN13: 9780672519901

Strictly Speaking

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Format: Hardcover

Condition: Good

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Book Overview

Admiring colleagues have called Edwin Newman an antipollutant, sensibly sardonic, a rare bird, a genial intellect, a man nobody is going to fool anywhere, anytime, anyway. In his book, Strictly Speaking, these qualities are joined. Newman's wry eye focuses on the sorry state of the English language as a reflection of the sad state of American society. He skewers stereotypes, cliches, errors, and jargon used by weather forecasters, presidents, vice-presidents, sportscasters, diplomats, senators, pollsters, newsmen, advertisers, social scientists, college presidents, foreign correspondents, youth. Few escape. Drawing upon his wealth of experience in newspapers, radio, and television, Newman deflates the pompous, the grandiose, the stilted, the hollow. He rejoices in language that is lucid, graceful, direct, civilized. The reader rejoices in him.

Customer Reviews

3 customer ratings | 3 reviews

Rated 4 stars
STRICTLY SPEAKING by Edwin Newman

Strictly Speaking: Will America Be the Death of English? is a 1974 critique of the decline and abuse of the English language by journalist and former NBC News correspondent Edwin Newman. Newman is not an advocate for Standard English for its own sake, and he is not against the natural evolution of language. His biggest complaints are with politicians, members of the media (The New York Times in particular), and those in academia,...

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Rated 5 stars
Buy it, read it, and enjoy it!

This book should be standard reading for anybody that attempts to speak or write English. Especially for those producing works for publication (marketing, PR, news, radio, etc.). Newman's wit and experience deliver an excellent journey into why the English language (spoken or written) is the mess it is today. An easy book to read, it will make many people laugh out loud as they realize the mistakes/humor/stupidity/etc. that...

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Rated 5 stars
Newman's "Strictly Speaking" should be required reading

Few books on the use and misuse of language have "Strictly Speaking"'s wit and memorable wisdom. Newman's admirable career with NBC News has given him the narrative glue to hold this wonderfully intelligent and entertaining book together. Newman could probably make better use of these words - but this reader has made the most of Newman's logical, instructive book.

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