Micro Mention "The Story of Human Language"

How languages evolve, split, and combine over time is an interesting subject for me, so I really enjoyed Professor John McWhorter's course presented by the Great Courses, "The Story of Human Language."

If you pick up this course, McWhorter takes you down several unexpected twists and turns on how language functions and even changes with time. There is this odd conception that language degrades with time and becomes coarser and less refined. All of which, in my opinion, is just another symptom of overindulgence in nostalgic thinking, this erroneous belief that back in the past, there was some golden age that we've all just gotten away from. If only we all still wandered about speaking perfect Latin at each other, things would be better.

It wouldn't.

In any case, McWhorter helped me understand that language is a vital thing, a living thing that changes and reflects the people whose mouths—or hands, or whatever electronic assistance devices—speak it.

Micro Mention "English In America: A Linguistic History"

This course by the great courses “English In America: A Linguistic History” taught by Natalie Schilling is one part engaging history of the English language in the United States and one part fascinating survey of regional dialects and their features.

People have strong opinions on linguistics and what is and isn't "proper" English, and they usually all have one thing in common; they've never attended a lecture from a "proper" course on linguistics. I was surprised with this course, and others I've taken on the topic, that real linguistics professors tend to be way more laid back about the subject of what is and isn't the proper way to use a language. It makes sense when you consider that languages are like everything else. They change and evolve to better suit the times—and that is a good thing!

Micro Mention "Language Families of the World"

One of my favorite platforms for learning something new is The Great Courses, and this course, “Language Families of the World” by John McWhorter, is incredibly illuminating on how language evolves, and how different languages relate to each other. I personally have learned more about English, where it came from, and why it is the way that it is, and how it fits in with the other languages of the world in this course than my entire time as a student in public education. 

Outside of linguistics, Professor McWhorter might be divisive to some. Still, it can't be denied how intelligent he is, and even when I find myself disagreeing with him on one political point or another, I always respect how well thought out he makes his arguments.