THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE

Do you recall that the suggestion was made (in reviewing Herbert's What A Word! (page 80). that a record be kept of customers — a growing number — interested in dictionaries, books about language, etc. ? Here is another candidate, the most comprehensive, thorough study of the growth of a language virtually our own that has appeared. Mencken is admirably equipped for the task — and he has approached a vast subject with scholarly vision. One may feel, that, at times, he applauds Americanisms too loudly — but on the whole, the viewpoint is objective, the analysis sound. Words, phrases, pronunciation, usage, sheer barbarisms and colloquialisms, dialects, sectional peculiarities, place and proper names, etc. etc. An essential item for public and college libraries, and for any private library that pretends to have well rounded reference shelves.