Living Language : Reading, Thinking, and Writing

by Nilsen, Alleen Pace

• ISBN13: 9780205270910
• ISBN10: 0205270913
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Longman

Summary

Living Language fulfills the promise of its title by revealing to students the excitement of language study, the constancy of language change, and the impact of language on our everyday lives. Sixty-one reading selections not only provide models and inspiration for writing, but also help students develop their critical reading skills, weigh and analyze data, enlarge their vocabularies, and understand the many ways that language enables humans to communicate with each other.The organization of the book leads students from personal, subjective writing to more objective and academic writing. It treats current, popular topics, but always through the lens of language. In addition to readings of varied length, Living Language also includes visuals; up-to-date selections on the media, technology, and the Internet; and interesting details about language change. The text also acknowledges cultural differences among U.S. speakers. Each chapter contains two or more "Living Language" boxes, very brief summaries of news items or interesting language observations. Most of the selections are followed by "Words to Talk About," and all are followed by comprehension and discussion questions. "Workshops" provide a starting point for in-class activities.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xv
You and Your Names	p. 1
Denny? Vito? Ritchie? Old Monikers Conquered by Creative Coinings in Baby-Name Game	p. 3
From DeVon to LaDon, Invented Names Proclaim "I am"	p. 6
My Name	p. 12
From I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings	p. 14
From a World Without Surnames	p. 18
Making a Name for Yourself	p. 30
The Name is Mine	p. 35
Stand-by-Your-Man "Mrs." Makes A Comeback	p. 37
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 40
Information Sources for Writing	p. 42
The Wonder of Words	p. 45
From "Ferrule"	p. 46
The Living Word	p. 47
Learning to Read and Write	p. 50
From the Autobiography of Malcolm X	p. 55
Acquiring Language	p. 59
The Mother Tongue	p. 66
On Language Fossilizing	p. 75
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 84
Information Sources for Writing	p. 86
Communication Challenges	p. 89
In Other Words	p. 90
Dear Ann Landers	p. 101
Graffiti as Social Discourse	p. 106
Crime and Punishment: Shame Gains Popularity	p. 112
Anti-Gay Policy Hinders Classroom Talk	p. 119
"Put Down that Paper and Talk to Me!": Rapport-Talk and Report-Talk	p. 125
Notes on the Ebonics Controversy	p. 130
If Black English isn't a Language, then Tell Me, What is?	p. 135
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 140
Information Sources for Writing	p. 142
Labels of Primary Potency	p. 145
A People in Search of the Naming Power	p. 147
Papago Just Won't Go Away	p. 149
Term Limits: Hispanic? Latino? A National Debate Proves No One Name Pleases Everyone	p. 152
From in Whose Honor? American Indian Mascots in Sports	p. 159
Sexism in English: Embodiment and Language	p. 173
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 190
Information Sources for Writing	p. 192
Language for Fun: Humor in America	p. 195
When Democrats Need to Lighten Up, He has Laugh Lines	p. 197
Four Dialogues	p. 206
Our Private Laughter: American Cynicism and Optimism	p. 213
Strip Teasing: "Dilbert" Principle: Baring Corporate Soul for Laughs	p. 223
Frog Princes and Fish as Business Executives: "You have 7 Seconds to Make Someone Laugh"	p. 229
In Celebration of the Bad Girl	p. 235
Defiantly Incorrect: the Humor of John Callahan	p. 241
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 248
Information Sources for Writing	p. 252
Language to Persuade	p. 255
Hate Talk? You Make the Call	p. 257
Wilcox Faces Her Biggest Challenge	p. 259
Propaganda: How Not to be Bamboozled	p. 262
The Speeding Ticket	p. 273
Word Law	p. 281
From "The World of Doublespeak"	p. 298
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 309
Information Sources for Writing	p. 310
The Mass Media	p. 313
TV Talk Shows Accused of Trivializing Troubles	p. 314
Do You know A Kunz Out in Utah?	p. 321
Publishers Buy Word's Worth Not Wordsworth	p. 326
The Celebs' Golden Mouthpiece	p. 331
It's Up Close and Misleading	p. 334
The Power of Babble	p. 339
Who Put the "Jazz" in Utah?	p. 349
No Easy Task to Name Names	p. 354
Sex Sells, But How Far Will We Let It Go?	p. 360
Twa Conspiracy Spreads on Internet	p. 367
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 374
Information Sources for Writing	p. 376
Technology and Language Change	p. 379
If U CN RD Ths, U Undrstind Scnce	p. 380
More Dismal Math Scores for U.S. Students: X, Y, and U	p. 387
The Recycling of Words in Cyberspace	p. 393
Rein in Bosses Who Spy on E-Mail	p. 410
A Neo-Luddite Reflects on the Internet	p. 417
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 422
Information Sources for Writing	p. 425
Changing Words in a Changing World	p. 427
English as A World Language	p. 429
Bar English? French Bicker on Barricades	p. 441
English-Only: as American as Apple Pie?	p. 447
A Sampling of Letters to the Editor About Arizona's Proposition 106	p. 450
Soundbites About National Legislation	p. 453
But a Language Shouldn't Change That Fast	p. 456
In the Canon, for all the Wrong Reasons	p. 468
Suggested Topics for Writing	p. 474
Information Sources for Writing	p. 475
Index	p. 481
Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved.