A00256 - Robert MacNeil and The Story of English


I note with sadness the passing of Robert MacNeil

Robert MacNeil, Earnest News Anchor for PBS, Dies at 93 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)


In response to my fairly recent post entitled "Robert Williams and the Birth of Ebonics", an Amherst College classmate of mine responded as set forth below and I, in turn, responded to him citing Robert MacNeil's The Story of English as being the book that greatly influenced my perception of the English language and of its evolution into being a language filled with words which previous generations would have found objectionable. 

I am grateful for the solid journalistic work Robert MacNeil provided during my early years of watching PBS.  But I am greatly indebted to him for providing a basis for my perception that the term "standard English" as being a very subjective term.  The book The Story of English may be almost forty years old now, but its lessons concerning the birth and development of the English language continue to be priceless.  I recommend everyone who can to read his book and, if at all possible, to revisit his documentary series of the same name.  Even after almost forty years, I think it will be enlightening for all.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins 
Fairfield, California
April 12, 2024


----- Forwarded Message -----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com>
To: 
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2024 at 06:50:52 AM PST
Subject: Re: Robert Williams and the Birth of Ebonics

xxxxx,

Thank you for this article.  I am mindful of the PBS series I watched almost forty years ago, entitled The Story of English


As I usually do, I also read the book.  As the series explained, the English language is not really a static entity.  It has evolved over time and continues to evolve today.  What we may consider to be an abomination of the language today, may one day become standard.  I commend to you that rather illuminating book, and the revelation that a "standard" English is just an arbitrary construct set in a particular time.  Over time, the language will change and what was once deemed a sign of ignorance may instead become part of the "standard" lexicon.  What more can you axs?

Skip  

On Monday, February 26, 2024 at 06:36:42 AM PST, xxxxx wrote:


Hey Skip,

Your note prompted me to Google the one thing I've struggled with the most and I finally found a write-up that makes sense. https://www.latimes.com/opinion/la-xpm-2014-jan-19-la-oe-mcwhorter-black-speech-ax-20140119-story.html

Hope all is well,

xxxxx

On Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 8:25 AM skipjen2865@aol.com <skipjen2865@aol.com> wrote:

As the march through 1930 continues, I pause briefly at the bio for Robert Williams


the Black psychologist who coined the term "Ebonics"


to explain the certain dialects and speech patterns associated with African Americans in various forms throughout the land.  

I suppose some of Dr. Williams ideas about Ebonics may seem antiquated now.  And yet, I continue to be troubled by the historical fact that at least one famous person began his life speaking a form of Ebonics and that the ridicule and abuse that he endured for speaking such would have consequences for all of American history.


I am also mindful that amongst the People of Turtle Island, there is an increased effort to recover their indigenous dialects.  Indeed, each episode of ICT (Indian Country Today) now includes a phrase in an indigenous language that is voiced and explained.  

Advancing Efforts to Revitalize Indigenous Languages, Biden-Harris Administration to Host Native Languages Summit | U.S. Department of the Interior (doi.gov)





The efforts of Dr. Williams to elevate the urban and rural dialects of African Americans to an accepted status may not have been entirely successful.  However, in light of efforts being done today for the Indigenous languages of the Indigenous Americans, the efforts of Dr. Williams would appear to have some merit.  Some merit, indeed.

Peace,

Everett "Skip" Jenkins

 

 

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