The English language is rather like a monster accordion, stretchable at the whim of the editor, compressible ad lib.

The English language is rather like a monster accordion, stretchable at the whim of the editor, compressible ad lib.

Our native language is like a second skin, so much a part of us we resist the idea that it read more

Our native language is like a second skin, so much a part of us we resist the idea that it is constantly changing, constantly being renewed.

I can remember the lush spring excitement of language in childhood. Sitting in church, rolling it around my mouth like read more

I can remember the lush spring excitement of language in childhood. Sitting in church, rolling it around my mouth like marbles--tabernacle and pharisee and parable, tresspass and Babylon and covenant.

The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearne, but it is still nonsense.

The learned fool writes his nonsense in better language than the unlearne, but it is still nonsense.

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing.

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk read more

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes; and thanks to words, we have often sunk to the level of the demons.

Syllables govern the world.

Syllables govern the world.

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes, and thanks to words, we have sunk to read more

Thanks to words, we have been able to rise above the brutes, and thanks to words, we have sunk to the level of the demons.

Male supremacy is fused into the language, so that every sentence both heralds and affirms it.

Male supremacy is fused into the language, so that every sentence both heralds and affirms it.