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The American Language Study Guide

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by H. L. Mencken
About 122 pages (36,652 words)
The American Language Summary

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Chapter 1.5 Summary

Providing general characterization of American speech, Mencken claims that those discussing it point out 1) its general uniformity throughout America; and 2) its "impatient disregard" for rules and precedents of grammar. Both subsequently lend themselves to a great capacity for taking in and/or creating new words and phrases. Unlike other countries, in America there is a general dialect shared by the whole nation. He quotes President Taft, who states they "all speak the same language and have the same ideas," adding his is a comment affirmed by others - New York World, Gilbert M. Tucker, American observers. "...There is practically no difference between the American spoken in our 4,039,000 square miles of territory, except as spoken by foreigners.... From Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, no trace of a distinct dialect is to be.....

This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 737 words. This study guide contains 36,652 words (approx. 122 pages at 300 words per page).

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The American Language from BookRags and Gale's For Students Series. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.

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