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Jacques Barzun, protector of English

Right up to his death at 104, the historian fought to preserve the language he loved.

Near the end of his long, illustrious life, about a month shy of his 105th birthday, the distinguished cultural historian and public intellectual Jacques Barzun no doubt had many things on his mind. One was completing a questionnaire about word usage.

Comments

My late dad, Morton W. Bloomfield, who was also on the original AHD usage panel always pointed out that unlike the French, Americans have no central body that controls the language, establishing what is 'right' or 'wrong.' Furthermore, carping about changes in word meanings, not to say grammar, has been a very old pastime. But since language is human made and shaped it has to change like any other living thing.