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SPEECH RULES!

Program 05-05-29-A

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Ask any babbling baby. Talking's fun! At least it is until the grammarians get after you. But Patricia O'Connor says we can all relax, there's nothing wrong with splitting an infinitive and there never was. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we take on the rules of grammar and words that can't be translated

SEGMENT 1:

Lauren Myracle has written three books for young adults, including "ttyl." The book is named for an abbreviation used in Instant Messaging to mean "talk to you later." Myracle talks with Anne Strainchamps about how easily kids communicate using IM and how it's changing English. Also, Patricia O'Connor's book is "Woe is I: A Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English." She tells Jim Fleming there's nothing wrong with splitting an infinitive and that people should stop trying to make English behave like Latin.

SEGMENT 2:

Christopher Moore is the author of "In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World." He talks with Steve Paulson about the world's most untranslatable words. They include "spam" and so we also hear from Monty Python. Also, Robert MacNeil (and co-author William Cran) have written another companion book for a PBS series. This one's called "Do You Speak American?" MacNeil tells Jim Fleming that while coastal dialects are being lost, new American dialects are developing all the time as American English evolves.

SEGMENT 3:

Shane White and Graham White are the co-authors of "The Sounds of Slavery: Discovering African American History Through Songs, Sermons and Speech." The book also includes a CD of historic recordings. Shane White tells Steve Paulson about some of the recordings and we hear several of them.

Cassette copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 05-05-29-A.

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Books:

• Shane White and Graham White: The Sounds of Slavery: Discovering African American History through Songs, Sermons and Speech (Beacon)
• Robert MacNeil and William Cran: Do You Speak American? (NanTalese/Doubleday)
• Lauren Myracle: ttyl (Amulet)
• Christopher J. Moore: In Other Words: A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World (Walker)
• Patricia T. O'Connor: Woe is I: A Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English Second Edition (Riverhead)
  

Music:

• Button after Myracle: “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter” Willie Nelson from Willie Standard Time Sony Music Special Products A 26915
• Button/Option after O’Connor: “Gunslinger” Arnie Naiman & Chris Coole from 5 Strings Attached, Vol. 2 Merriweather Records MO2CA www.interlog.com/~ragged Telephone: 905- 841-1879
• Button after Moore: “Spam Song” from The Monty Python CD Collection Virgin 7243 8 39821 2 7
• Button/Option after MacNeil: “Amelia’s Waltz” Natalie MacMaster from A Compilation Rounder CD7021
• Music for White: Selections from The Sounds Of Slavery: Historic Africa American Recordings
  “Arwhoolie” performed by Thomas J. Marshall at Edwards, Mississippi in 1939
  “Roxie” performed by convicts at penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi in 1939
  “The Man of Calvary” Easter Sermon delivered by Sin Killer Griffin at Darrington State Farm, Sandy Point, Texas in 1934
  “Motherless Child” performed by Clifford Reed, Johnny Mae Medlock and Julia Griffin at State Farm in Railford, Florida in 1939
  “Long Hot Summer Day” sung by Clyde Hill and convicts at Clemens State Farm, Brazoria, Texas in 1939

Distribution dates:

week of 09/10/2006 - hour 2 week of 05/29/2005 - hour 1

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