John McWhorter

I think it's great. And I know that there is a strain of thought that says that non-black people are stealing black English features and appropriating them and that there should be a line. But for one, there could never be that line. That line couldn't happen, especially with the mainstreaming of hip hop.

And it's getting to the point where you can be a thoroughly mature person and not really remember when rap was listened to by basically all kids. That happened really in the 90s. But once you've got that, and you've got that music in people's ears, and just in general, I think that it's a sign that there is less of a color line than there used to be. And we all know that we still have work to do.

And it's getting to the point where you can be a thoroughly mature person and not really remember when rap was listened to by basically all kids. That happened really in the 90s. But once you've got that, and you've got that music in people's ears, and just in general, I think that it's a sign that there is less of a color line than there used to be. And we all know that we still have work to do.

But There was a different time. There was 1950, and then there was 1980, which was very different from today. And I think that this business of supposing that non-black people aren't going to borrow what is probably the most vibrant slang in the United States, it'll never happen. It's actually a good sign that it is happening.

But There was a different time. There was 1950, and then there was 1980, which was very different from today. And I think that this business of supposing that non-black people aren't going to borrow what is probably the most vibrant slang in the United States, it'll never happen. It's actually a good sign that it is happening.

And it really is at the point where if you're going to look at how modern English is changing, which is mostly the words, Two times out of three, it comes from either black slang or gay black slang. That's a major source of our new words. And really, it's a word I try to avoid two words. Holistic, because it just makes everybody happy to hear the word holistic. And also the word dynamic.

And it really is at the point where if you're going to look at how modern English is changing, which is mostly the words, Two times out of three, it comes from either black slang or gay black slang. That's a major source of our new words. And really, it's a word I try to avoid two words. Holistic, because it just makes everybody happy to hear the word holistic. And also the word dynamic.

It's dynamic. What the hell does that mean? But I think that black English jumping into mainstream English is quite dynamic, and I enjoy watching it. So, yeah, I'm not giving the right answer because I know there are people who think that it's appropriation. That's complicated, though, and I think that's an over-application of the appropriation concept, I think.

It's dynamic. What the hell does that mean? But I think that black English jumping into mainstream English is quite dynamic, and I enjoy watching it. So, yeah, I'm not giving the right answer because I know there are people who think that it's appropriation. That's complicated, though, and I think that's an over-application of the appropriation concept, I think.

I want people to stop saying it is what it is, because I find that the chilliest, most dismissive expression, that's got to stop. There's something pickier. You can't just walk into this room and start yelling. That's how the sentence should be. You can't simply walk into this. You can't just walk But everybody says, you just can't walk into this room and start yelling.

I want people to stop saying it is what it is, because I find that the chilliest, most dismissive expression, that's got to stop. There's something pickier. You can't just walk into this room and start yelling. That's how the sentence should be. You can't simply walk into this. You can't just walk But everybody says, you just can't walk into this room and start yelling.

That is now ordinary American English, and I have no right to have any problem with it. But it's kind of like you wanting the order in the Monopoly directions. It doesn't make any sense. You can't just walk in, but people say just can't all the time. There was an episode of The Lucy Show where somebody did it, and so I know that it's not new. But it really, it hurts me. And then...

That is now ordinary American English, and I have no right to have any problem with it. But it's kind of like you wanting the order in the Monopoly directions. It doesn't make any sense. You can't just walk in, but people say just can't all the time. There was an episode of The Lucy Show where somebody did it, and so I know that it's not new. But it really, it hurts me. And then...

Let's see what else. This is one that I didn't like when I started hearing it in the 90s. Yeah, yeah, yeah, people say when they're having a conversation. They'll say, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But they also make it in an orange color. You're trying to say something. They say, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it sounds pushy to me, kind of like, you shut up. And that's not what they mean.

Let's see what else. This is one that I didn't like when I started hearing it in the 90s. Yeah, yeah, yeah, people say when they're having a conversation. They'll say, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But they also make it in an orange color. You're trying to say something. They say, yeah, yeah, yeah. And it sounds pushy to me, kind of like, you shut up. And that's not what they mean.

But to me, it's just one yeah would do. What they're trying to do is... take their turn in the conversation, and they say, yeah, yeah, yeah, in the same way that now both you and I probably use exclamation points in our emails when we're not exclaiming anything. It's kind of, be there in a second, ding!

But to me, it's just one yeah would do. What they're trying to do is... take their turn in the conversation, and they say, yeah, yeah, yeah, in the same way that now both you and I probably use exclamation points in our emails when we're not exclaiming anything. It's kind of, be there in a second, ding!

And so that has become, and so now if you want to really exclaim, if you want to say something like, the tangerine is the best flavor, then you have to use two exclamation points. So, yeah, yeah, yeah, is kind of long for what used to be just, yeah, but, it's just this kind of natural, It's kind of like sections of DNA replicating. And so that was a weird analogy, but yeah.

And so that has become, and so now if you want to really exclaim, if you want to say something like, the tangerine is the best flavor, then you have to use two exclamation points. So, yeah, yeah, yeah, is kind of long for what used to be just, yeah, but, it's just this kind of natural, It's kind of like sections of DNA replicating. And so that was a weird analogy, but yeah.

It's completely out of control. That's right. And all that is is that you're being cheery and polite. Yeah. That was not the way we wrote emails 30 years ago or even 20. But now I'm doing the exclamation points because I'm thinking if I just have a period, it makes it look like I'm angry. And that's how punctuation changes.