The American Language
A Preliminary Inquiry into the Development of English in the United StatesBy H. L. Mencken
Length10h 51m
About this audiobook
In "The American Language," H. L. Mencken embarks on an incisive exploration of American English, meticulously examining its distinct characteristics, regional dialects, and evolving syntax. Mencken's literary style is characterized by wit, erudition, and a fervent enthusiasm for language, making his observations both accessible and engaging. The book is set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America, a period of profound social change and burgeoning national identity, providing a rich context for Mencken's assertions about language as a living entity that reflects cultural values and societal norms. Mencken, a prominent journalist and social critic, was deeply influenced by his observations of American society and its peculiarities. His love for language, combined with his unyielding skepticism of American cultural pretensions, propelled him to document the idiosyncrasies of American English. As a member of the so-called 'Lost Generation,' Mencken's work synthesizes the tumult of his era, examining how English was reshaped to accommodate the American experience. For anyone intrigued by linguistics, American culture, or the evolution of language, "The American Language" is an indispensable read. Mencken'Äôs articulate arguments, peppered with humor and irony, challenge readers to reconsider their perceptions of language, making this book a thought-provoking companion for scholars and casual readers alike.
Audiobook details
GenreOther
Length10 hrs 51 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 9, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The View of Writing Men
19Pronunciation
2Foreign Observers
20Spoken American As It Is
3The Characters of American
21The Verb
4The Materials of American
22The Pronoun
5Sources of Early Americanisms
23VII Differences in Spelling
Show all chaptersShow less
6New Words of English Material
24Typical Forms
7Changed Meanings
25General Tendencies
8Archaic English Words
26The Influence of Webster
9Colonial Pronunciation
27Exchanges
10The Expanding Vocabulary
28Simplified Spelling
11Loan-Words
29IX Miscellanea
12Pronunciation
30Proverb and Platitude
13V Tendencies in American
31American Slang
14International Exchanges
32The Future of the Language
15Points of Difference
33List of Words and Phrases (pt. 1)
16Lost Distinctions
34List of Words and Phrases (pt. 2)
17Foreign Influences Today
35General Index
18Processes of Word Formation
More from H. L. Mencken
Damn! A Book of CalumnyH. L. Mencken1h 9m$1 · $0.00
In Defense of WomenH. L. Mencken5h 52m$2 · $0.00
Prejudices, fifth seriesH. L. Mencken7h 16m$1 · $0.00
Prejudices: EssaysH. L. Mencken7h 15m$2 · $0.00
The American CredoH. L. Mencken, George Jean Nathan3h 32m$2 · $0.00
The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche (Summarized Edition)H. L. Mencken5h 3m$2
Notes on Democracy (Summarized Edition)H. L. Mencken2h 20m$2
Notes on DemocracyH. L. Mencken5h 52m$2 · $0.00
In Defense of WomenH. L. Mencken4h 36m$2 · $0.00
In Defense of WomenH. L. Mencken5h 58m$1 · $0.00
The American LanguageH. L. Mencken17h 4m$2 · $0.00
H. L. Mencken - Premium CollectionH. L. Mencken, George Jean Nathan51h 5m$2 · $0.00
The American Language: Development of English in the United StatesH. L. Mencken18h 31m$2 · $0.00
In Defense of WomenH. L. Mencken4h 36m$2 · $0.00
A Book of PrefacesH. L. Mencken7h 33m$2 · $0.00
Prejudices, Second SeriesH. L. Mencken4h 12m$2 · $0.00
The Book of Proverbs (2020 Edition)Brian Simmons4h 48m1 (1)$10 · $0.00
The Holy Bible - 1 SamuelKing James2h 13m$3 · $0.00
KJV Holy BibleBroadStreet Publishing Group LLC96h 16m$10 · $0.00
Book of ColossiansUnknown Author16m$8
The American Standard Bible — The Gospel of MatthewMatthew3h 56m$2 · $0.00
Everyday Chanakya | Time Management S01E08Radhakrishnan Pillai42m$4
Bad Fat Black GirlSesali Bowen6h 32m$24 · $0.00
The King James Audio Bible New Testament CompleteChristopher Glyn20h 2m5 (1)$12 · $0.00
Faiths CheckbookCharles Spurgeon12h 44m$11 · $0.00
Be Wild Be FreeAmber Fossey26m$7 · $0.00
My Favorite Husband, Vol. 1Hollywood 360, CBS Radio5h 40m$14
Designing Terry Pratchett’s DiscworldPaul Kidby3h 52m$20 · $0.00
The Chosen Book OneAmanda Jenkins, Kristen Hendricks, Dallas Jenkins3h 8m$10 · $0.00
The Lives of BrianBrian Johnson9h 45m$29 · $0.00
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the HorseCharlie Mackesy58m$11 · $0.00
Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of LukeJ.C. Ryle27h 13m$18 · $0.00
CrossroadsKaleb Dahlgren7h 56m$26 · $0.00
Across the RiverKent Babb11h 40m$29 · $0.00
Brain Training for RidersAndrea Monsarrat Waldo5h 56m$19 · $0.00
My Effin' LifeGeddy Lee17h 11m5 (1)$40 · $0.00
You may also like
e-Pedia: The BeatlesWikipedia contributors371h 39m$1 · $0.00
Marian McPartland’s Jazz WorldMarian McPartland7h 47m$12 · $0.00
Obiter Dicta: Second SeriesAugustine Birrell4h 2m$2 · $0.00
Modern Painting (Illustrated Edition)S.S. Van Dine, Willard Huntington Wright10h 39m$1 · $0.00
Student-teachers' identity construction and its connection with student-centered approaches:Bertha Ramos Holguín, Jahir Aguirre Morales, Nancy María Torres Cepeda2h 48m$5 · $0.00
The Autobiography of Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin, Frank Woodworth Pine7h 5m$1 · $0.00
Some Diversions of a Man of LettersEdmund Gosse5h 28m$2 · $0.00
Leonardo Da VinciMaurice W. Brockwell45m$2 · $0.00
Jazz 101John F. Szwed8h 1m$17
Annals of Music in America: A Chronological Record of Significant Musical EventsHenry Charles Lahee7h 58m$1 · $0.00
Love That DogSharon Creech36m$9 · $0.00
See You at San DiegoMathew Klickstein19h$30 · $0.00
My RecollectionsJules Massenet4h 51m$2 · $0.00
Guaranteed PureTimothy E. W. Gloege12h 16m$23 · $0.00
Benjamin FranklinRobin McKown5h 26m$2.30
Everybody Has a Podcast (Except You)Justin McElroy, Travis McElroy, Griffin McElroy5h 9m$24 · $0.00
Buy, Build, SellPaul Seabridge4h 8m$19 · $0.00
The Foundations of Science: Science and Hypothesis, The Value of Science, Science and MethodHenri Poincaré23h 25m$2 · $0.00
The American LanguageH. L. Mencken17h 4m$2 · $0.00
The EuropeansOrlando Figes21h 39m$30