Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there was never such a year. The language of Chaucer's or Shakespeare's time was no better and no worse than that of our own - just different.


Language Change: Progress Or Decay? (ed. Cambridge University Press, 2013) - ISBN: 9781107023628

Jean Aitchison Quotes

Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there...

Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there...

Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there...

Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain. In fact, there...