On the initial meeting of President Nixon and Premier Golda Meir Nixon remarked that they had one strong thing in common: both of them had Jewish Secretaries of State. "Yes," replied Premier Meir, "but mine speaks English." Scott Catledge -----Original Message----- From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ATEG automatic digest system Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 12:00 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: ATEG Digest - 23 Nov 2008 to 25 Nov 2008 (#2008-245) There are 10 messages totalling 1079 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. the most articulate American (10) To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:31:39 -0800 From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> Subject: the most articulate American --0-186299707-1227623499=:67292 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable "Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =A0 Brad, =A0 Who is this naturalized German who came to the USA at age 13 and is now "th= e best speaker and writer of our language?" I'm trying to figure that one o= ut,=A0but I can't. =A0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brad replied: =A0 My Mom taught me to not say, "I can't", but to say, "I haven't yet". =A0 You'll get it but if you don't, I won't let you dangle too long. =A0 .brad.11feb08. =A0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wow! Last February I said I wouldn't let you dangle but dangle you did. =A0 I'm sorry. =A0 Henry Kissinger. =A0 I invite you to show me grammatical errors in his writing ... or speeches, = if any are of record. Google is going to kill me, I suppose. No fair gangin= g up, gang :) =A0 .brad.25nov08.=0A=0A=0A To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-186299707-1227623499=:67292 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV><EM><STRONG>"Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]></STRONG></EM> wrote: <DIV><STRONG> </STRONG></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG>Brad,</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG>Who is this naturalized German who came to the USA at age 13 and is now "the best speaker and writer of our language?" I'm trying to figure that one out, but I can't.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Verdana>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</FONT><BR></DIV></STRONG><STRONG></STRONG> <DIV><STRONG>Brad replied:</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>My Mom taught me to not say, "I can't", but to say, "I haven't yet".</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>You'll get it but if you don't, I won't let you dangle too long.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>.brad.11feb08.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=verdana>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</FONT><BR></STRONG><BR><STRONG>Wow! Last February I said I wouldn't let you dangle but dangle you did.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>I'm sorry.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Henry Kissinger.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>I invite you to show me grammatical errors in his writing ... or speeches, if any are of record. Google is going to kill me, I suppose. No fair ganging up, gang <FONT color=#007f40>:</FONT></STRONG><FONT color=#c00000>)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>.brad.25nov08.</STRONG></DIV></td></tr></table><br> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-186299707-1227623499=:67292-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 09:14:57 -0800 From: "Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American --0-43349154-1227633297=:85366 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Brad,=0A=091. I wasn't dangling -- in fact, I almost forgot that I ever ask= ed the question (I've been occupied with other matters).=0A=092. Henry Kiss= inger is a talented person, but I don't agree that he is "the best speaker = and writer of our language," nor is he "The most articulate American." Good= use of grammar is not the only criterion of articulate speech or writing; = in fact, it may not be the most important, either.=0A=093. I don't believe = that it is possible (nor even desirable) to identify one person as "the mos= t" or "the best" anything; as my rhetoric professors might have said: "Swee= ping generalizations are never true!"=0ASorry to be contrary, but thanks ju= st the same=A0for the belated response,=A0and may=A0all of=A0you lovely fel= low grammar lovers=A0have a lovely, restful Thanksgiving.=0A=A0=0ARedundant= ly yours,=0A=A0=0APaul D.=0A=A0=0AP.S.=A0For those of you who might be inte= rested in why I have been so long silent on=A0the list, you might want to c= heck out the (lovely?)=A0website I designed for my school theatre program: = www.pomperaug.com/organizations/theatre -- it's kept me busy, and it's a do= ozy!=A0=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=0AFrom: Brad Johnston <= [log in to unmask]>=0ATo: [log in to unmask]: Tuesday, Novem= ber 25, 2008 9:31:39 AM=0ASubject: the most articulate American=0A=0A=0A"Pa= ul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =0A=A0=0ABrad,=0A=A0=0AWho is thi= s naturalized German who came to the USA at age 13 and is now "the best spe= aker and writer of our language?" I'm trying to figure that one out,=A0but = I can't.=0A=A0=0A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=0A=0ABrad replied:=0A=A0=0AMy Mom taught m= e to not say, "I can't", but to say, "I haven't yet".=0A=A0=0AYou'll get it= but if you don't, I won't let you dangle too long.=0A=A0=0A.brad.11feb08.= =0A=A0=0A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~=0A=0AWow! Last February I said I wouldn't let you = dangle but dangle you did.=0A=A0=0AI'm sorry.=0A=A0=0AHenry Kissinger.=0A= =A0=0AI invite you to show me grammatical errors in his writing ... or spee= ches, if any are of record. Google is going to kill me, I suppose. No fair = ganging up, gang :)=0A=A0=0A.brad.25nov08. =0ATo join or leave this LISTSER= V list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.ed= u/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" =0AVisit ATEG's we= b site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-43349154-1227633297=:85366 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>Brad,</DIV> <OL> <LI>I wasn't dangling -- in fact, I almost forgot that I ever asked the question (I've been occupied with other matters).</LI> <LI><FONT face="bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Henry Kissinger is a talented person, but I don't agree that he is "the best speaker and writer of our language," nor is he "The most articulate American."</FONT> Good use of grammar is not the only criterion of articulate speech or writing; in fact, it may not be the most important, either.</LI> <LI>I don't believe that it is possible (nor even desirable) to identify one person as "the most" or "the best" anything; as my rhetoric professors might have said: "Sweeping generalizations are never true!"</LI></OL> <P>Sorry to be contrary, but thanks just the same for the belated response, and may all of you lovely fellow grammar lovers have a lovely, restful Thanksgiving.</P> <P> </P> <P>Redundantly yours,</P> <P> </P> <P>Paul D.</P> <P> </P> <P>P.S. For those of you who might be interested in why I have been so long silent on the list, you might want to check out the (lovely?) website I designed for my school theatre program: <A href="http://www.pomperaug.com/organizations/theatre">www.pomperaug.com/orga nizations/theatre</A> -- it's kept me busy, and it's a doozy! <BR></P> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><BR></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> <HR SIZE=1> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> [log in to unmask]<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, November 25, 2008 9:31:39 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> the most articulate American<BR></FONT><BR> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top> <DIV><EM><STRONG>"Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]></STRONG></EM> wrote: <DIV><STRONG> </STRONG></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG>Brad,</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG>Who is this naturalized German who came to the USA at age 13 and is now "the best speaker and writer of our language?" I'm trying to figure that one out, but I can't.</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size=2><STRONG> </STRONG></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Verdana>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</FONT><BR></DIV></STRONG><STRONG></STRONG> <DIV><STRONG>Brad replied:</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>My Mom taught me to not say, "I can't", but to say, "I haven't yet".</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>You'll get it but if you don't, I won't let you dangle too long.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>.brad.11feb08.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG><FONT face=verdana>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</FONT><BR></STRONG><BR><STRONG>Wow! Last February I said I wouldn't let you dangle but dangle you did.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>I'm sorry.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Henry Kissinger.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>I invite you to show me grammatical errors in his writing ... or speeches, if any are of record. Google is going to kill me, I suppose. No fair ganging up, gang <FONT color=#007f40>:</FONT></STRONG><FONT color=#c00000>)</FONT></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>.brad.25nov08.</STRONG></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <P>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/</P></DIV></div></body></html> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-43349154-1227633297=:85366-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:01:12 -0800 From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American --0-112915429-1227639672=:77953 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Paul, =A0 I agree with everything you say. =A0 Before I can recall Henry's crown, I should ask you for the name of someone= who does it better, using your criteria. =A0 Brad. --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: Brad, =A0 Henry Kissinger is a talented person, but I don't agree that he is "the bes= t speaker and writer of our language," nor is he "The most articulate Ameri= can." Good use of grammar is not the only criterion of articulate speech or= writing; in fact, it may not be the most important, either. =A0 I don't believe that it is possible (nor even desirable) to identify one pe= rson as "the most" or "the best" anything; as my rhetoric professors might = have said: "Sweeping generalizations are never true!" =A0=0A=0A=0A To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-112915429-1227639672=:77953 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Paul,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I agree with <U>everything</U> you say.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Before I can recall Henry's crown, I should ask you for the name of someone who does it better, using <U>your</U> criteria.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Brad.<BR><BR>--- On <B>Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <I><[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid"><BR> <DIV id=yiv846432551> <STYLE type=text/css><!--#yiv846432551 DIV {margin:0px;}--></STYLE> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Brad,</DIV> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="bookman old style, new york, times, serif"></FONT> </DIV> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Henry Kissinger is a talented person, but I don't agree that he is "the best speaker and writer of our language," nor is he "The most articulate American."</FONT> Good use of grammar is not the only criterion of articulate speech or writing; in fact, it may not be the most important, either.</DIV> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"> </DIV> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif">I don't believe that it is possible (nor even desirable) to identify one person as "the most" or "the best" anything; as my rhetoric professors might have said: "Sweeping generalizations are never true!"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table><br> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-112915429-1227639672=:77953-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:51:49 -0800 From: "Paul E. Doniger" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such= --0-306657659-1227649909=:19544 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Brad,=0A=0AIf you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such= a question. I see no=A0value in debating about who is or who isn't a bette= r user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just=A0dwel= l joyfully in=A0good language when I come across it and not make comparison= s.=0A=0APaul=0A=0A=0A=0A________________________________=0AFrom: Brad Johns= ton <[log in to unmask]>=0ATo: [log in to unmask]: Tuesday, = November 25, 2008 2:01:12 PM=0ASubject: Re: the most articulate American=0A= =0A=0APaul,=0A=0AI agree with everything you say.=0A=0ABefore I can recall = Henry's crown, I should ask you for the name of someone who does it better,= using your criteria.=0A=0ABrad.=0A=0A--- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger= <[log in to unmask]> wrote:=0A=0A=0ABrad,=0A=A0=0AHenry Kissinger is a tale= nted person, but I don't agree that he is "the best speaker and writer of o= ur language," nor is he "The most articulate American." Good use of grammar= is not the only criterion of articulate speech or writing; in fact, it may= not be the most important, either. =0A=A0 =0AI don't believe that it is po= ssible (nor even desirable) to identify one person as "the most" or "the be= st" anything; as my rhetoric professors might have said: "Sweeping generali= zations are never true!" =0A =0ATo join or leave this LISTSERV list, please= visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ate= g.html and select "Join or leave the list" =0AVisit ATEG's web site at http= ://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-306657659-1227649909=:19544 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:bookman old style, new york, times, serif;font-size:12pt"><DIV>Brad,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no value in debating about who is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make comparisons.</DIV> <DIV><BR>Paul</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><BR> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> <HR SIZE=1> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> [log in to unmask]<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, November 25, 2008 2:01:12 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: the most articulate American<BR></FONT><BR> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top> <DIV>Paul,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I agree with <U>everything</U> you say.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Before I can recall Henry's crown, I should ask you for the name of someone who does it better, using <U>your</U> criteria.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Brad.<BR><BR>--- On <B>Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <I><[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid"><BR> <DIV id=yiv846432551> <STYLE type=text/css><!--#yiv846432551 DIV {margin:0px;}--></STYLE> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Brad,</DIV> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="bookman old style, new york, times, serif"></FONT> </P></DIV> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"><FONT face="bookman old style, new york, times, serif">Henry Kissinger is a talented person, but I don't agree that he is "the best speaker and writer of our language," nor is he "The most articulate American."</FONT> Good use of grammar is not the only criterion of articulate speech or writing; in fact, it may not be the most important, either. <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif"> <P style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: bookman old style, new york, times, serif">I don't believe that it is possible (nor even desirable) to identify one person as "the most" or "the best" anything; as my rhetoric professors might have said: "Sweeping generalizations are never true!" <DIV> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <P>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/</P></DIV></DIV></div></body></html> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-306657659-1227649909=:19544-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:45:46 -0800 From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American --0-1964809312-1227656746=:68341 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. = Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five:=A0hated= it, didn't like it,=A0liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their compu= ter tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet. =A0 Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech prof= essor if I could find one. =A0 You don't like my choice, tell=A0us what yours is. =A0 Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you = do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough t= o beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. =A0 Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not=A0Heming= way and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Wh= o's really got a handle on our language? =A0 C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? =A0 --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =A0 If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question= . I see no=A0value in debating=A0who is or who isn't a better user of the E= nglish language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just=A0dwell joyfully in= =A0good language when I come across it and not make comparisons. =A0=0A=0A=0A To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-1964809312-1227656746=:68341 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five<STRONG>:</STRONG> hated it, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech professor if I could find one.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough to beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Who's really got a handle on our language?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--- On <B>Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <I><[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make comparisons.<FONT face=Tahoma size=2></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> </DIV></FONT></td></tr></table><br> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-1964809312-1227656746=:68341-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:18:27 -0800 From: Carol Morrison <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American --0-1682131013-1227658707=:67006 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable The most articulate American? Let's see...in terms of speaking clearly, dis= tinctly, and coherently in addition to displaying mastery over the English = language, I'd=A0include the following on my list: =A0 1. Sylvester Stallone 2. Brad Pitt 3. Anna Nicole Smith 4.=A0John McCain 5. Sarah Palin =A0 The last two are clearly mavericks, both as politicians and public speakers= . Oh, I almost forgot...Joe the Plumber. He's very articulate as well. CLM --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American To: [log in to unmask] Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 6:45 PM Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. = Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five:=A0hated= it, didn't like it,=A0liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their compu= ter tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet. =A0 Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech prof= essor if I could find one. =A0 You don't like my choice, tell=A0us what yours is. =A0 Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you = do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough t= o beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. =A0 Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not=A0Heming= way and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Wh= o's really got a handle on our language? =A0 C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? =A0 --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =A0 If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question= . I see no=A0value in debating=A0who is or who isn't a better user of the E= nglish language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just=A0dwell joyfully in= =A0good language when I come across it and not make comparisons. =A0 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface = at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave= the list"=20 Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ =0A=0A=0A To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-1682131013-1227658707=:67006 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV>The most articulate American? Let's see...in terms of speaking clearly, distinctly, and coherently in addition to displaying mastery over the English language, I'd include the following on my list:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. Sylvester Stallone</DIV> <DIV>2. Brad Pitt</DIV> <DIV>3. Anna Nicole Smith</DIV> <DIV>4. John McCain</DIV> <DIV>5. Sarah Palin</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The last two are clearly mavericks, both as politicians and public speakers. Oh, I almost forgot...Joe the Plumber. He's very articulate as well.</DIV> <DIV>CLM<BR>--- On <B>Tue, 11/25/08, Brad Johnston <I><[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:<BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid">From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]><BR>Subject: Re: the most articulate American<BR>To: [log in to unmask]<BR>Date: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 6:45 PM<BR><BR> <DIV id=yiv2024379714> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD vAlign=top> <DIV>Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five<STRONG>:</STRONG> hated it, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech professor if I could find one.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough to beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Who's really got a handle on our language?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>--- On <B>Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <I><[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make comparisons.<FONT face=Tahoma size=2></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> </DIV></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <DIV>Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ </DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table><br> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-1682131013-1227658707=:67006-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:20:15 -0600 From: Susan van Druten <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American --Apple-Mail-9-243512117 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Barack Obama. But you weren't really listening to Paul. When he said he didn't want to play best and worst list games, you said you agreed with him. Clearly, you do not agree with him. I don't particularly think Obama is a great orator (because politicians are full of b.s.), but since I'd rather listen to him than Henry and since he's kinda in the news right now, he's my choice for greatest political living orator. As far as verbal skills--and not speeches--go, I think Steven Colbert is very clever. But he's playing the role of a sophist. I also like Mark Twain and George Orwell and H.L. Mencken. On Nov 25, 2008, at 5:45 PM, Brad Johnston wrote: > Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published > every day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it > one to five: hated it, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, > loved it. Then their computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade > a movie you haven't seen yet. > > Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a > speech professor if I could find one. > > You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is. > > Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? > If you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's > going to be tough to beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. > > Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not > Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. > Who is it? Who's really got a handle on our language? > > C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? > > --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a > question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better > user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just > dwell joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make > comparisons. > > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web > interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and > select "Join or leave the list" > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --Apple-Mail-9-243512117 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Type: text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1 <html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; = -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "> Barack Obama. =A0<div><br></div><div>But you weren't really listening to = Paul. =A0When he said he didn't want to play best and worst list games, = you said you agreed with him. =A0Clearly, you do not agree with him. =A0I = don't particularly think Obama is a great orator (because politicians = are full of b.s.), but since I'd rather listen to him than Henry and = since he's kinda in the news right now, he's my choice for greatest = political living orator. =A0As far as verbal skills--and not = speeches--go, I think Steven Colbert is very clever. =A0But he's playing = the role of a sophist. =A0I also like Mark Twain and George Orwell and = H.L. Mencken.</div><div><div><br></div><div><br><div><div>On Nov 25, = 2008, at 5:45 PM, Brad Johnston wrote:</div><br = class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><table = cellspacing=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" border=3D"0"><tbody><tr><td = valign=3D"top" style=3D"font: inherit;"><div>Whadaya talking about? = There are Best and Worst lists published every day. Netflix sends you a = DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five<strong>:</strong>=A0hated = it, didn't like it,=A0liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their = computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen = yet.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Every speech I ever gave I had a critic = sitting in the back - a speech professor if I could find one.</div> = <div>=A0</div> <div>You don't like my choice, tell=A0us what yours = is.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Don't you pay attention to what people = write and how they write it? If you do, you must think some are better = than others. Henry's going to be tough to beat but go ahead and try it. = Take a shot.</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>Anyone else want to take a shot = and let Paul hunker down? It's not=A0Hemingway and it's not George Bush = and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Who's really got a handle on = our language?</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>C'mon, gang. Who's really good = at it?</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>--- On <b>Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. = Doniger <i><<a = href=3D"mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</a>></i></b> = wrote:</div> <div>=A0</div> <div>If you agreed with everything I said, = then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no=A0value in debating=A0who = is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry = Kissinger. I'd rather just=A0dwell joyfully in=A0good language when I = come across it and not make comparisons.<font face=3D"Tahoma" = size=3D"2"></font></div> <div><font face=3D"Tahoma" = size=3D"2">=A0</font></div><font face=3D"Tahoma" = size=3D"2"></font></td></tr></tbody></table><br> To join or leave this = LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: <a = href=3D"http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html">http://listserv.muo= hio.edu/archives/ateg.html</a> and select "Join or leave the list" <p> = Visit ATEG's web site at <a href=3D"http://ateg.org">http://ateg.org</a>/ = </p></blockquote></div><br></div></div></body></html>= To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --Apple-Mail-9-243512117-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:48:59 -0600 From: "Atchley, Clinton" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American It depends, of course, on your definition of "great" and "articulate," = but for his ability to work an audience, it has to be Bill Clinton. =20 Clinton Atchley, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English Director, Master of Liberal Arts Program Box 7652 Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR 71999 Phone: 870.230.5276 Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.hsu.edu/atchlec=20 ________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Susan = van Druten Sent: Tue 11/25/2008 6:20 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: the most articulate American Barack Obama. =20 But you weren't really listening to Paul. When he said he didn't want = to play best and worst list games, you said you agreed with him. = Clearly, you do not agree with him. I don't particularly think Obama is = a great orator (because politicians are full of b.s.), but since I'd = rather listen to him than Henry and since he's kinda in the news right = now, he's my choice for greatest political living orator. As far as = verbal skills--and not speeches--go, I think Steven Colbert is very = clever. But he's playing the role of a sophist. I also like Mark Twain = and George Orwell and H.L. Mencken. On Nov 25, 2008, at 5:45 PM, Brad Johnston wrote: Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every = day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five: = hated it, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their = computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen = yet. =20 Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech = professor if I could find one. =20 You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is. =20 Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If = you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be = tough to beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. =20 Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not = Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who = is it? Who's really got a handle on our language? =20 C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? =20 --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =20 If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a = question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better user = of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell = joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make = comparisons. =20 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web = interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select = "Join or leave the list"=20 Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org <http://ateg.org/> /=20 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web = interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select = "Join or leave the list"=20 Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/=20 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:35:46 -0800 From: Brad Johnston <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American --0-1148183221-1227670546=:40398 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable GOOD shot! =A0 Depends on what the definition of "is" is, n.t.s. =A0 Has he ever written anything we can get hold of? that he wrote himself? =A0 --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Atchley, Clinton <[log in to unmask]> wrote: It depends, of course, on your definition of "great" and "articulate," but for his ability to work an audience, it has to be Bill Clinton. =20 Clinton Atchley, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English Director, Master of Liberal Arts Program Box 7652 Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR 71999 Phone: 870.230.5276 Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.hsu.edu/atchlec=20 ________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Susan van Druten Sent: Tue 11/25/2008 6:20 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: the most articulate American Barack Obama. =20 But you weren't really listening to Paul. When he said he didn't want to play best and worst list games, you said you agreed with him. Clearly, = you do not agree with him. I don't particularly think Obama is a great orator (because politicians are full of b.s.), but since I'd rather listen to him than Henry and since he's kinda in the news right now, he's my choice for greatest political living orator. As far as verbal skills--and not speeches--go, I think Steven Colbert is very clever. But he's playing the role of a sophist. I also like Mark Twain and George Orwell and H.L. Menck= en. On Nov 25, 2008, at 5:45 PM, Brad Johnston wrote: Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five: hated i= t, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet. =20 Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech professor if I could find one. =20 You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is. =20 Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough t= o beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. =20 Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Who's really got a handle on our language? =20 C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? =20 --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =20 If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell joyfully i= n good language when I come across it and not make comparisons. =20 =0A=0A=0A To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-1148183221-1227670546=:40398 Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" ><tr><td valign="top" style="font: inherit;"><DIV><STRONG>GOOD shot!</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Depends on what the definition of "is" is, n.t.s.</STRONG></DIV> <DIV><STRONG></STRONG> </DIV> <DIV><STRONG>Has he ever written anything we can get hold of? that he wrote himself?</STRONG></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><BR>--- On <B>Tue, 11/25/08, Atchley, Clinton <I><[log in to unmask]></I></B> wrote:<BR></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(16,16,255) 2px solid"><PRE>It depends, of course, on your definition of "great" and "articulate," but for his ability to work an audience, it has to be Bill Clinton. Clinton Atchley, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English Director, Master of Liberal Arts Program Box 7652 Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR 71999 Phone: 870.230.5276 Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.hsu.edu/atchlec ________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Susan van Druten Sent: Tue 11/25/2008 6:20 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: the most articulate American Barack Obama. But you weren't really listening to Paul. When he said he didn't want to play best and worst list games, you said you agreed with him. Clearly, you do not agree with him. I don't particularly think Obama is a great orator (because politicians are full of b.s.), but since I'd rather listen to him than Henry and since he's kinda in the news right now, he's my choice for greatest political living orator. As far as verbal skills--and not speeches--go, I think Steven Colbert is very clever. But he's playing the role of a sophist. I also like Mark Twain and George Orwell and H.L. Mencken. On Nov 25, 2008, at 5:45 PM, Brad Johnston wrote: Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five: hated it, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet. Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech professor if I could find one. You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is. Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough to beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Who's really got a handle on our language? C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make comparisons. </PRE></BLOCKQUOTE></td></tr></table><br> To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" <p> Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ --0-1148183221-1227670546=:40398-- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:35:56 -0500 From: "Spruiell, William C" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: the most articulate American The great thing about best/worst lists is that they allow one to take whatever one's personal opinions are and repackage them as something vaguely resembling objectivity. Therefore, I shall now settle the issue once and for all by proposing a simple criterion: A speaker is not qualified to be considered a contender for "best speaker" unless s/he can spontaneously utter a contextually appropriate, and non-self-referential, sentence containing the words 'defenestrate,' 'capybara,' 'promontory' and 'snood'. There you have it. I have no examples of any utterance meeting the criterion, and hence there is no best speaker. Sincerely, Bill Spruiell -----Original Message----- From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Atchley, Clinton Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 8:49 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: the most articulate American It depends, of course, on your definition of "great" and "articulate," but for his ability to work an audience, it has to be Bill Clinton. =20 Clinton Atchley, Ph.D. Associate Professor of English Director, Master of Liberal Arts Program Box 7652 Henderson State University Arkadelphia, AR 71999 Phone: 870.230.5276 Email: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.hsu.edu/atchlec=20 ________________________________ From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Susan van Druten Sent: Tue 11/25/2008 6:20 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: the most articulate American Barack Obama. =20 But you weren't really listening to Paul. When he said he didn't want to play best and worst list games, you said you agreed with him. Clearly, you do not agree with him. I don't particularly think Obama is a great orator (because politicians are full of b.s.), but since I'd rather listen to him than Henry and since he's kinda in the news right now, he's my choice for greatest political living orator. As far as verbal skills--and not speeches--go, I think Steven Colbert is very clever. But he's playing the role of a sophist. I also like Mark Twain and George Orwell and H.L. Mencken. On Nov 25, 2008, at 5:45 PM, Brad Johnston wrote: Whadaya talking about? There are Best and Worst lists published every day. Netflix sends you a DVD movie and asks you to grade it one to five: hated it, didn't like it, liked it, liked it a lot, loved it. Then their computer tells you what it thinks you'll grade a movie you haven't seen yet. =20 Every speech I ever gave I had a critic sitting in the back - a speech professor if I could find one. =20 You don't like my choice, tell us what yours is. =20 Don't you pay attention to what people write and how they write it? If you do, you must think some are better than others. Henry's going to be tough to beat but go ahead and try it. Take a shot. =20 Anyone else want to take a shot and let Paul hunker down? It's not Hemingway and it's not George Bush and it's not Mary Higgins Clark. Who is it? Who's really got a handle on our language? =20 C'mon, gang. Who's really good at it? =20 --- On Tue, 11/25/08, Paul E. Doniger <[log in to unmask]> wrote: =20 If you agreed with everything I said, then you wouldn't ask such a question. I see no value in debating who is or who isn't a better user of the English language than Henry Kissinger. I'd rather just dwell joyfully in good language when I come across it and not make comparisons. =20 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"=20 Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org <http://ateg.org/> /=20 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list"=20 Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/=20 To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ ------------------------------ End of ATEG Digest - 23 Nov 2008 to 25 Nov 2008 (#2008-245) *********************************************************** To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/