Why Do We Insist on Proper English — and What Does That Say About Us?

Top of Mind with Julie Rose

What's that one thing about how people speak English that gets on your nerves? When people say “like” a lot? Or say “literally” when they mean “figuratively”? We all have language pet peeves, and we may even be willing to admit that we judge people who break the rules. After all, how we talk matters. Why do we insist on proper English — and what does that say about us? In this episode of the podcast, we speak with an English professor and College Writing Center director about the experience of code-switching and how she learned to respect "Black language" as something much more than slang. Then, a sociolinguist explains the constantly changing nature of the English language and why “filler words” like “um” and “like” have a role to play. And a speech expert highlights the role listeners play when communication breaks down and offers tips for better understanding those who speak English differently. Podcast Guests: Wonderful Faison, Ph.D., professor of English and head of Writing, Rhetoric, and Research Services at Jackston State University Valerie Fridland, Ph.D., professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada Reno and author of "Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English" Melissa Baese-Berk, Ph.D., professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago and director of the Speech Perception and Production Lab.