LIKE, LITERALLY, DUDE Arguing for the Good in Bad English

Seven enthusiastic narrators join author Valerie Fridland in this entertaining and educational apologia for speaking like, um, a regular, you know, person. Fridland, a professor of linguistics, explores the role and often surprising history of language placeholders and other speech habits. With chapters on everything from "like" and "you know" and "they" as a singular pronoun (not as newfangled as many believe) to women's use of vocal fry, this is an audiobook for all kinds of language lovers. Fridland, who writes in an approachable yet scholarly style, is well served by Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Keylor Leigh, Andrew Eiden, Christopher Grant, Ellen Archer, Eileen Stevens, and Nicky Endres. They present with clarity and energy, helping to make the erudite material truly fun. I mean, ya know, bro? A.C.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2023]