The American Language: An Inquiry into the Development of English in the United States

by H.L. Mencken

A modified, one-volume edition of Mencken's classic analysis of American English

Genres: Language, Reference, History

777 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 1977

About the author

Henry Louis "H.L." Mencken became one of the most influential and prolific journalists in America in the 1920s and '30s, writing about all the shams and con artists in the world. He attacked chiropractors and the Ku Klux Klan, politicians and other journalists. Most of all, he attacked Puritan morality. He called Puritanism, "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy."

At the height of his career, he edited and wrote for The American Mercury magazine and the Baltimore Sun newspaper, wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column for the Chicago Tribune, and published two or three books every year. His masterpiece was one of the few books he wrote about something he loved, a book called The American Language (1919), a history and collection of American vernacular speech. It included a translation of the Declaration of Independence into American English that began, "When things get so balled up that the people of a country got to cut loose from some other country, and go it on their own hook, without asking no permission from nobody, excepting maybe God Almighty, then they ought to let everybody know why they done it, so that everybody can see they are not trying to put nothing over on nobody."

When asked what he would like for an epitaph, Mencken wrote, "If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl."

(from American Public Media)

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating study of the history and spread of Americanisms and American influenced English. Initially, many native English people were quite against the so-called vulgarisms of early Americans, but after a time, they came into wide acceptance and use even by purists. Mostly this happened after "talkies" came over to England.

It includes a study of regional dialects and other things as well. A wonderful scholarly work.

Anyone interested in language should read this. The only real issue with it is that it isn't very current. This particular edition was published in 1971. So obviously a great deal of evolution has gone on with the English language since it is a living creature, getting expanded all the time.

In any case, it is a great book, and even though it is quite scholarly and dry, I wasn't really bored with learning where OK comes from or anything like that.

[Michael Toleno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting treatment of the development of modern American language, with much focus on the spoken word, including slang, pronunciation, spelling, and proper names. It's difficult to get through in many places because it's a compendium of a lot of academic notes, which are not always put together in a way that makes for good storytelling. Mencken can be crass at times; I've read elsewhere that that's consistent with his real-life personality. A great academic resource and starting point for further research in linguistics.

[Austin Gisriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating study of the English and American languages. Mencken's philosophy of language and its teaching was quite eye-opening, especially for a former English teacher, but this is NOT for the faint of heart. You must have a real interest in the structure of language to even attempt this. It's a textbook, really; one that feels as if I began reading in 1978.

[J. D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic treatment by a classic author. This book will reward repeated visits by anyone interested in the development and history of English, especially as use in the U.S.