Americans no longer expect public figures, whether in speech or in writing, to command the English language with skill and gift. Nor do they aspire to such command themselves. In his latest book, Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care, John McWhorter, a linguist and controversialist of mixed liberal and conservative views, sees the triumph of 1960s counter - culture as responsible for the decline of formal English. Blaming the permissive 1960s is nothing new, but this is not yet another criticism against the decline in education. Mr. McWhorter’’ s academic speciality is language history and change, and he sees the gradual disappearance of "whom", for example, to be natural and no more regrettable than the loss of the case - endings of Old English. But the cult of the authentic and the personal, "doing our own thing", has spelt the death of formal speech, writing, poetry and music. While even the modestly educated sought an elevated tone when they put pen to paper before the 1960s, even the most well regarded writing since then has sought to capture spoken English on the page. Equally, in poetry, the highly personal, performative genre is the only form that could claim real liveliness. In both oral and written English,talkings triumphing over speaking, spontaneity over craft. Illustrated with an entertaining array of examples from both high and low culture, the trend that Mr. McWhorter documents is unmistakable. But it is less clear, to take the question of his subtitle, why we should, like, care. As a linguist, he acknowledges that all varieties of human language, including non -standard ones like Black English, can be powerfully expressive--there exists no language or dialect in the world that cannot convey complex ideas. He is not arguing, as many do, that we can no longer think straight because we do not talk proper. Russians have a deep love for their own language and carry large chunks of memorized poetry in their heads, while Italian politicians tend to elaborate speech that would seem old -fashioned to most English- speakers. Mr. McWhorter acknowledges that formal language is not strictly necessary, and proposes no radical education reforms--he is really grieving over the loss of something beautiful more than useful. We now take our English "on paper plates instead of china". A shame, perhaps, but probably an inevitable one. According to McWhorter, the decline of formal English
A. is inevitable in radical education reforms.
B. is but all too natural in language development
C. has caused the controversy over the counter- culture.
D. brought about changes in public attitudes in the 1960s.
I learned how to accept life as it is from my father. (1) , he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy, but rather when he was (2) and ill. My father was (3) a strong man who loved being active. But a terrible illness (4) all that away. Now he can no longer walk. And he must sit quietly in a chair all day. Even talking is (5) . One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started (6) about life, and I told them about one of my (7) . I said that we must very often give things up (8) we grow: our youth, our beauty, our friends, but it always (9) that after we give something up, we gain something new in its place. Then suddenly my father (10) up. He said, "But, Peter, I gave up (11) ! What did I gain" I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say. (12) , he answered his own question. "I (13) the love of my family. " I looked at my sisters and saw tears in their eyes along with hope and thankfulness. I was also (14) by his words. After that, when I began to feel irritated at someone, I (15) remember his words and become (16) . If he could replace his great pain with a feeling of love for others, then I should be (17) to give up my small irritations. In this (18) , I learned the power of acceptance from my father. Sometimes I (19) what other things I could have learned from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy. For now, though, I am grateful for this one (20)
A. worrying
B. caring
C. talking
D. asking