John McWhorter
I teach linguistics and other things at Columbia U., am Contributing Editor at the Atlantic, and host Lexicon Valley at Slate. Latest book: THE CREOLE DEBATE.
Thought Leader
| #21 | The New Center |
Note. This is unlikely to be a complete listing.
What the Jussie Smollett Story Reveals
It shows a peculiar aspect of 21st-century America: victimhood chic.
Are All Instances of Blackface Alike?
Perhaps there is a difference between donning it to mock black people and donning it to resemble someone, as Mark Herring did.
Could Black English Mean a Prison Sentence?
Court stenographers often misunderstand Black English, and their mistakes could affect people’s lives at crucial junctures.
Jeremy Kappell Made a Mistake
The Rochester TV weatherman shouldn’t lose his livelihood over a speech-error slipup.
The Meaning of Trump’s Typos
They suggest not just inadequate manners or polish, but inadequate thought.
John McWhorter
The Atlantic covers news and analysis on politics, business, culture, technology, national, international and life on the official site of The Atlantic Magazine.
The Virtue Signalers Won’t Change the World
Third-wave antiracism makes sense, and fits into the longer struggle, but it’s a dead end.
Call Them What They Wants
As more English speakers adopt the singular "they" and reject the gender binary, resisters will have to accept that language changes over time.
Call Them What They Wants
As more English speakers adopt the singular "they" and reject the gender binary, resisters will have to accept that language changes over time.
There's No Such Thing as a ’Language’
Dialects are all there is.