Search the Fresh Air Archive

Close Search

The False Crisis of Poor Enunciation

Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the attention paid to how people talk says more about class status and regionalism than a decline in effective communication. He explains.

03:51
Queue

Contributor

Related Topics

Other segments from the episode on July 4, 1990

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 4, 1990: Interview with Bob Kane; Commentary on Ray Charles; Interview with Ben Vaughn; Commentary on enunciation.
Queue
22:44

Batman Creator Bob Kane

Kane says his inspirations for the iconic superhero included drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and Zorro. He designed Batman to be more relatable than Superman; Bruce Wayne may be rich and strong, but he's also mortal. Kane recently worked as a consultant on Tim Burton's new film adaptation, and has a new autobiography, called Batman & Me.

Interview
Queue
06:56

A Great Blues Talent Among the Imitators

Shortly after Ray Charles endured a family tragedy, he started to go blind. His mother feared for his future, but Charles was able to make a career in music. Rock historian Ed Ward describes how Charles, who was steeped in the tradition of Nat King Cole, developed his own unique voice.

Commentary

Transcript

Transcript currently not available.

Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

You May Also like

Queue
22:06

The Final Day Robert MacNeil Hosts "The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour."

Television anchor and author Robert MacNeil. He steps down tonight as co-anchor of the PBS news show The MacNeil/Lehrer Newshour. Terry talked with him this week. We'll hear that interview and one from 1989. His books include, Wordstruck, a memoir that explores the roots of MacNeil's fascination with language and the best-selling The Story of English. (Contains excerpt of MacNeil's March 14, 1989 interview).

Interview
Queue
09:32

A "Wordstruck" Journalist's New Memoir

Robert MacNeil hosts the Newshour program with Jim Lehrer. His latest book is about how his childhood experiences led him to a career in the news, and the importance of language and diction in his professional life.

Interview
Queue
06:00

Presidents and Pronunciation: Going 'Nucular'

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about presidents and language, and the pronunciation of nuclear as "nucular," a mispronunciation that dates all the way back to the era of Eisenhower. The underlying cognitive causes and social implications are considered.

Commentary

Did you know you can create a shareable playlist?

Learn How
Advertisement

Recently on Fresh Air Available to Play on NPR

41:37

This doctor turned a 31-foot RV into one of the country's only mobile OB-GYN clinics

Tonya Mosley interviews Dr. MARY FARIBA AFSARI, a board-certified ob-gyn who walked away from a traditional practice, bought a 31-foot RV, and turned it into one of the country's only mobile gynecology clinics. Her book, Labor: One Woman’s Work, recounts her decision to leave traditional practice to reach communities most abandoned by our current healthcare system.

Related segments from the Fresh Air Archive:

See All Recent Segments

There are more than 22,000 Fresh Air segments.

Let us help you find exactly what you want to hear.
Just play me something
Your Queue

Would you like to make a playlist based on your queue?

Generate & Share View/Edit Your Queue