Language

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about a new kind of literacy test revealed by the Palm Beach County Ballot controversy.

Literary forensics expert Don Foster. Named the first literary detective of all time, he uncovered the identity of Joe Klein as the Anonymous writer of 1996’s “Primary Colors”. His new book is “Author Unknown: On the Trail of Anonymous” (Henry Holt, Inc.) which details the techniques he uses to identify writers behind anonymous books and documents. He teaches English at Vassar College.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg has some advice for Gore and Bush as they head into their third and final debate.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg has a commentary on the idea of community. A controversial recent book by Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam argues that community participation is in sharp decline in American life, but Nunberg says the word “community” is being used more frequently than ever.

Our classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz turns off the turntable and reads us a poem from his new book, Cairo Traffic.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg contemplates the finer points of punctuation.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg takes a look at the trouble the media had trying to find the words to describe vice presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on distinctions in grammar.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the phrase “thought leader.”

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the trend among corporate giants to change their names to create a new identity.