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I have always been fascinated with words, with the idea clusters of letters (and the spoken sounds they represent) can be combined to produce an infinite variety of words. These words describe our world, identify and define the objects within, influence and direct how we interact with those around us, and ultimately bring clarity to the inner voice that speaks to only one.

When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better and/or Worse categorizes and chronicles the evolution of the basic building blocks of the English language. While the subtitle suggests 'for better and/or worse' it is important to note 'better' definitely prevails here.


The mere acts of speaking and writing, of communicating, require agreement among the members of the family, tribe, community, or nation regarding the 'rules' that govern their common tongue.

Back in the day, two of the 'Three Rs' focused on language and learning these 'rules' of language. Instruction in reading and 'riting once stressed structure, organization, clarity, and the basic functions of the building blocks, the parts of speech, of English. In this tome, English teacher and language writer Ben Yagoda brings a light hand and a humorous touch to his (apparently) favorite subjects of words, parts of speech, and language.

A brief Introduction sets the tone for what follows. We learn of 'prescriptivists' who embrace the rules of English because ...well, because they are the rules. 'Descriptivists', on the other hand, would allow the rules to morph, to match the way people are speaking the language in the here and now.

While exploring the worlds of adjectives, adverbs, articles, conjunctions, interjections (yay..!!), nouns, prepositions, pronouns, and verbs Yagoda shares literally dozens, if not hundreds, of contemporary and historical examples of the use, and changing usage, of all these parts of speech.

From Shakespeare's prolific word creation to Rod Smart's 'He Hate Me', from y'all to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, from Watergate to the film Raising Helen, from Rocky Balboa to Monday Night Football . . .through it all the cleverly presented examples of many of the rules and when to break them make this a fun, entertaining, and enlightening read.


The Bottom Line
Early in the book, author Yagoda captures neatly his approach to the 'rules of English'. Seemingly neither a 'prescriptivist' nor a 'descriptivist' he shares his love of language that has ". . .a sense of the beauty, the joy, the artistry, and the fun of English."

When I read that thought I knew I would be pleased if When You Catch an Adjective, Kill It: The Parts of Speech, for Better and/or Worse delivered but a smidgen of that style of writing. To my delight it gave me oh so much more.



Other 'reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic reviews' by sleeper54


Certified 'Lean-n-mean' review

 

Recommended: Yes