Language is like clouds — if the clouds are in the same position they were in when we came in, something’s wrong.
Words on the Move
Setup
The evolution of the English language is more often thought of as a devolution, particularly with the infiltration of texting abbreviations and jargon into our everyday use. John McWhorter, linguist and associate professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia University, pushes back against this assumption. He’ll guide us through the evolution of the English language and invite us to laugh about, marvel at, and celebrate its vitality.
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