SAY IT AIN'T SO

Language changes constantly" seems an innocent observation today. Not so in 1961. We can take David Skinner's word for it: his book The Story of Ain't relates the heated controversy over the publication of Webster's Third (a dictionary, to the modern reader). At stake, the philosophy of the Western dictionary: whether to reflect contemporary usage or to instruct the unlettered public; to describe or prescribe. The tale is one of bickering educators and linguists, Webster's references old ("limp... a limp cravat") and new ("jazz... he spouted all the scientific jazz"), and clashes large and small: shrill denunciations, scathing and mostly uninformed editorials, and—not least—faculty wives cutting offending lexicographers. From the 1934 release of the beloved Webster's Second through the heady postwar years, Skinner traces the collision course of Third Edition editor in chief Philip Gove's "permissive" drift, "capitalist turned socialist turned anticommunist" Dwight Macdonald's caustic and invariably contrary views, and Edward Bernays protege James Parton's attempted takeover of Webster's parent firm, G. & C. Merriam Co. (Spoiler: if Macdonald won the battle, Gove may have won the war.) —MAX CARTER

MAX CARTER

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