Jack Lynch, Author of The Lexicographer's Dilemma - 22 Jan. 2010

<p>You know that grammatical 'rule' about not ending a sentence with a preposition? Well, who ever decided finishing off a sentence like that is a bad thing? (Personally, we think it's one of the silliest things anyone ever came up with.)</p> <p>In his new book, The Lexicographer's Dilemma The Evolution of 'Proper' English, from Shakespeare to South Park, literary historian Jack Lynch offers a lively narrative about the evolution of such rules, starting in the 17th century, when grammar books were more like self-help guides for the upwardly mobile. He introduces us to the flesh-and-blood (and almost always quirky) grammarians and dictionary editors who created and popularized traditional rules that people still argue about today.</p> <p>Recently Lynch talked with Martha about why and how some of those rules came to be.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lexicographers-Dilemma-Evolution-English-Shakespeare/dp/0802717004/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_1">http://www.amazon.com/Lexicographers-Dilemma-Evolution-English-Shakespeare/dp/0802717004/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_1</a></p> <p>Incidentally, Lynch, an associate professor of English at Rutgers University, has published his own helpful guide to grammar and usage online.</p> <p><a href="http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/">http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/</a></p> <p>--</p> <p>Get your language question answered on the air! Call or write with your questions at any time:</p> <p>Email: <a href="mailto:words@waywordradio.org">words@waywordradio.org</a></p> <p>Phone: <br />United States toll-free (877) WAY-WORD/(877) 929-9673<br />London +44 20 7193 2113<br />Mexico City +52 55 8421 9771</p> <p>Site: <a href="http://waywordradio.org">http://waywordradio.org</a>.<br />Podcast: <a href="http://waywordradio.org/podcast/">http://waywordradio.org/podcast/</a><br />Forums: <a href="http://waywordradio.org/discussion/">http://waywordradio.org/discussion/</a><br />Newsletter: <a href="http://waywordradio.org/newsletter/">http://waywordradio.org/newsletter/</a><br />Twitter: <a