The People's Tongue: Americans and the English Language

By Restless Books

A ONE-OF-A-KIND ANTHOLOGY OF THE WORLD’S LINGUA FRANCA: Featuring a tremendous array of letters, poems, memoir, jeremiads, documents, stories, songs, standup comedy and more by more than 100 English speakers across history—from Julia Alvarez to Dr. Seuss, David Foster Wallace to Amy Tan, Chang-Rae Lee to Russell Hoban, James Baldwin to Jhumpa Lahiri, Susan Sontag to E.B. White, Kendrick Lamar to Donald Trump—THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE is a fascinating overview of the power and uniqueness of the English language as shaped by Americans.

AN AMERICAN TRADITION OF LANGUAGE OBSESSION: THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE follows in the footsteps of a wide array of bestselling tomes about language, including Bill Bryson’s Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language in the United States, Simon Winchester’s The Professor and the Madman, John McWhorter’s Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue, and Benjamin Dreyer’s recent hit, Dreyer's English.

A CELEBRATION OF RESTLESS BOOKS’ FIRST TEN YEARS: The publication of THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE kicks off a year-long celebration of Restless Books’ first decade of publishing, with over one hundred works of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature from 38 countries, translated into English from 23 languages, and featuring English-language debuts of 44 notable international authors. THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE will be centered at events Restless is planning all year long. 

NATIONWIDE EVENTS: Ilan Stavans and Restless will host events across the country to promote THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE, in California, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Boston, New York, and elsewhere. Likely venues include the 92nd Street Y, the Tenement Museum (NYC), the American Writers Museum (Chicago), The New York Historical Society, and the Skirball Center (LA). Contributor event partners include TK TK TK.

A SLEW OF INTERVIEWS AND OP-EDS: The host of the NPR podcast “In Contrast,” Stavans will do interviews with NPR, PBS Newshour, and various blogs. A regular op-ed contributor for various outlets, he will write op-eds in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post. 

A WELL-CONNECTED EDITOR: Stavans can call on his many contacts in the media for reviews and endorsements. Potential blurbers include David Brooks, Bret Stephens, Jill Lapore, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Maxine Hong Kingston, Robert Pinsky, and Rita Dove.

A CONVERSATION STARTER: THE PEOPLE’S TONGUE will be a starting point for a national discussion on the American language and will appeal to countless organizations, cultural institutions, and media outlets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Restless Books
• Release date: Feb 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781632062666

Book preview

PART I

Landing Mode

ANNE WINTHROP

Letter to Adam Winthrop

(c. 1581)

Anne (née Browne) Winthrop (1544–1629) was the mother of John Winthrop (1587/8–1649), the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was born into a property-owning family in Edwardstone, Suffolk, England. She married Adam Winthrop, the subject of the love letter below, in 1579. This letter was probably written soon after their marriage, as it mentions no children. Though Early Modern English was emerging by the time she penned this letter, spelling, grammar, and punctuation were far from standardized. As such, Winthrop uses many conventions more typical of Late Middle English, rendering the letter difficult for many present-day readers to fully comprehend.

TO MY VERYE LOUINGE HUSBAND Mr. Adam Winthropp gyue these in Londone.

I haue reseyued (Right deere and welbelouid) frome you this weeke a letter, though short, yet verye sweete, whiche gaue me a lyuelye tast of those sweete and comfortable wordes, whiche alwayes when you be present withe me, are wonte to flowe most aboundantlye from youre louinge hart, wherbye I perseyue that whether you be present with me, ore absent from me, you are euer one towardes me, and your hart remayneth allwayes with me. Wherfore layinge vp this perswasion of you in my brest, I will most assuredlye, the lorde assistynge me by his grace, beare alwayes the lyke louing hart vnto you agayne, vntyll suche tyme as I may more fully enioye your louing presence: but in the meane tyme I will remayne as one hauing a greate inheritaunce, ore riche treasure, and it beinge by force kept from him, ore hee beinge in a strange contry, and cannot enioye it longethe contynuallye after it, sithinge and sorrowinge that hee is so long bereft of it, yet reioyseth that hee hathe so greatt tresure pertayninge to him, and hoppethe that one daye the tyme will com that hee shalle inioye it, and haue the wholle benyfytt of it, so I hauing a goode hoope of the tyme to com, doe more pacientlye beare the tyme present, and I praye send me word if you be in hellthe and what sucsese you haue with your letters. I sent to Cokynes for the capones and they are not yet fate, as soon as they be redye I wyll send them. I send you this weke by my fathers man a shyrte and fyve payer of hoses. I pray sell all thes, if ye wold any for your owne weryng I haue mor a knyttynge. I pray send me a pound of starche by my fathers man. You may uery well send my byble if it be redye. Thus with my verye hartye commendacions I byd you farewell Committinge you to almyghtye god to whome I commend you in my daylye prayers as I am sure you doe me, the lord kep vs now and euer amen. Your louing wife

ANNE WINTHROPPE.

Je vous rende grace de la bien souuenance que vous aues de moy bible francois, Je vous prie de l’enuoyer en brêf par le Rouillier.

If my brother Wintropp be at Londone I pray forgett not to saye my very hartye commendacions vnto him.

ROBERT SMITH

from The New England Primer

(1687)

The New England Primer (1687) played a major role in shaping the American language as the earliest known reading primer designed for use in the American colonies. Suffused with theological writings, the textbook aimed to promote literacy while instilling Christian values. The book was a bedrock of the eighteenth-century American educational system. Many, if not most, of the Founding Fathers learned to read using The New England Primer. Though the following poem is attributed to John Rogers, the first of the Marian martyrs killed under Mary Tudor, it was in fact written by another martyr named Robert Smith. Regardless, the book’s exaltation of a Protestant martyr persecuted by an English monarch is highly reflective of New England’s Puritan roots.

Give ear, my children, to my word,

Whom God hath dearly bought;

Lay up his laws within your heart,

And print them in your thought.

I leave you here a little book,

For you to look upon,

That you may see your father’s face,

When he is dead and gone,—

Who, for the hope of heavenly things,

While he did here remain,

Gave over all his golden years

To prison and to pain;—

Where I, among my iron bands,

Enclosed in the dark,

Not many days before my death,

Composed for you this work.

And for example to your youth,

To whom I wish all good,

I send you here God’s perfect truth,

And seal it with my blood;—

To you my heirs of earthly things,

Whom I do leave behind,

That you may read and understand,

And keep it in your mind;—

That as you have been heirs of that

Which once will wear away,

You also may possess that part

Which never will decay.

Keep always God before your eyes,

With all your whole intent,

Commit no sin in any wise,

But keep his commandments.

Abhor that arrant whore of Rome,

And all her blasphemies,

And drink not of her cursed cup;

Obey not her decrees.

Give honor to your mother dear;

Remember well her pain;

And recompense her, in her age,

With the like love again.

Be always ready for her help,

And let her not decay;

Remember well your father all,

Who should have been your stay.

Give of your portion to the poor,

As riches do arise;

And from the needy, naked soul,

Turn not away your eyes.

For he who doth not hear the cry

Of those who stand in need,

Will cry himself; and not be heard,

When he does hope to speed.

If God hath given you increase,

And blessed well your store,

Remember you are put in trust,

And should relieve the poor.

Beware of foul and filthy lusts;

Let such things have no place,

Keep clean your vessels in the Lord,

That he may you embrace.

You are the temples of the Lord,

For you are dearly bought,

And they who do defile the same

Will surely come to nought.

Be never proud, by any means,

Build not your house too high;

But always have before your eyes

That you were born to die.

Defraud not him who hired is,

Your labor to sustain;

But pay him still, without delay,

His wages for his pain.

And as you would that other men

Towards you should proceed,

Do you the same to them again,

When they do stand in need.

Impart your portion to the poor

In money and in meat;

And send the feeble, fainting soul

Of that which you do eat.

Ask counsel always of the wise,

Give ear unto the end,

And ne’er refuse the sweet rebuke

Of him who is your friend.

Be always thankful to the Lord,

With prayer and with praise,

Begging of him to bless your work,

And to direct your ways.

Seek first, I say, the living God,

And always him adore,

And then be sure that he will bless

Your basket and your store.

And I beseech Almighty God,

To replenish you with grace,

That I may meet you in the heavens,

And see you face to face.

And though the fire my body burn,

Contrary to my kind,

That I cannot enjoy your love,

According to my mind,—

Yet I do hope that when the heavens

Shall vanish like a scroll,

I shall see you in perfect shape

In body and in soul.

And that I may enjoy your love,

And you enjoy the land,

I do beseech the living Lord

To hold you in his hand.

Though here my body be adjudged

In flaming fire to fry,

My soul, I trust, will straight ascend

To dwell with God on high.

What though this carcass smart awhile?

What though this life decay?

My soul, I hope, will be with God,

And live with him for aye.

I know I am a sinner born,

From the original,

And that I do deserve to die,

By my forefather’s fall.

But by our Savior’s precious blood,

Which on the cross was spilt,

Who freely offered up his life,

To save our souls from guilt,—

I hope redemption I shall have,

And all who in him trust,

When I shall see him face to face,

And live among the just.

Why, then, should I fear death’s grim look,

Since Christ for me did die?

For king and Cesar, rich and poor,

The force of death must try.

When I am chained to the stake,

And fagots gird me round,

Then pray the Lord my soul in heaven

May be with glory crowned.

Come welcome death, the end of fears,

I am prepared to die;

These earthly flames will send my soul

Up to the Lord on high.

Farewell, my children, to the world,

Where you must yet remain;

The Lord of hosts is your defense

Till we do meet again.

Farewell, my true, my loving wife,

My children, and my friends;

I hope in heaven to see you all,

When all things have their ends.

If you go on to serve the Lord,

As you have now begun,

You shall walk safely all your days,

Until your life be done.

God grant you so to end your days,

As he shall think it best,

That I may meet you in the heavens,

Where I do hope to rest.

JOHN ADAMS

Proposal for an American Language Academy

(1780)

John Adams (1735–1826), one of the Founding Fathers, was the second president of the United States. He was an assiduous diarist who also wrote letters to many of the personalities of his day, especially to his wife, Abigail Adams. He believed the English language in America was one of the most valuable treasures of the young nation and argued for its protection, including through a special academy equal to the Académie française. Adams penned this proposal while on a diplomatic mission to Europe during the Revolutionary War. Formally entitled A Letter to the President of Congress, it was dispatched from Amsterdam on September 5, 1780.

AS ELOQUENCE is cultivated with more care in free republics than in other governments, it has been found by constant experience that such republics have produced the greatest purity, copiousness, and perfection of language. It is not to be disputed that the form of government has an influence upon language, and language in its turn influences not only the form of government, but the temper, the sentiments, and manners of the people. The admirable models which have been transmitted through the world, and continued down to these days, so as to form an essential part of the education of mankind from generation to generation, by those two ancient towns, Athens and Rome, would be sufficient, without any other argument, to show the United States the importance to their liberty, prosperity, and glory, of an early attention to the subject of eloquence and language.

Most of the nations of Europe have thought it necessary to establish by public authority institutions for fixing and improving their proper languages. I need not mention the academies in France, Spain, and Italy, their learned labors, nor their great success. But it is very remarkable, that although many learned and ingenious men in England have from age to age projected similar institutions for correcting and improving the English tongue, yet the government have never found time to interpose in any manner; so that to this day there is no grammar nor dictionary extant of the English language which has the least public authority; and it is only very lately, that a tolerable dictionary has been published, even by a private person, and there is not yet a passable grammar enterprised by any individual.

The honor of forming the first public institution for refining, correcting, improving, and ascertaining the English language, I hope is reserved for congress; they have every motive that can possibly influence a public assembly to undertake it. It will have a happy effect upon the union of the States to have a public standard for all persons in every part of the continent to appeal to, both for the signification and pronunciation of the language. The constitutions of all the States in the Union are so democratical that eloquence will become the instrument for recommending men to their fellow-citizens, and the principal means of advancement through the various ranks and offices of society.

In the last century, Latin was the universal language of Europe. Correspondence among the learned, and indeed among merchants and men of business, and the conversation of strangers and travellers, was generally carried on in that dead language. In the present century, Latin has been generally laid aside, and French has been substituted in its place, but has not yet become universally established, and, according to present appearances, it is not probable that it will. English is destined to be, in the next and succeeding centuries, more generally the language of the world than Latin was in the last or French is in the present age. The reason of this is obvious, because the increasing population in America, and their universal connection and correspondence with all nations will, aided by the influence of England in the world, whether great or small, force their language into general use, in spite of all the obstacles that may be thrown in their way, if any such there should be.

It is not necessary to enlarge further, to show the motives which the people of America have to turn their thoughts early to this subject; they will naturally occur to congress in a much greater detail than I have time to hint at. I would therefore submit to the consideration of congress the expediency and policy of erecting by their authority a society under the name of the American Academy for refining, improving, and ascertaining the English Language. The authority of congress is necessary to give such a society reputation, influence, and authority through all the States and with other nations. The number of members of which it shall consist, the manner of appointing those members, whether each State shall have a certain number of members and the power of appointing them, or whether congress shall have a certain number of members and the power of appointing them, or whether congress shall appoint them, whether after the first appointment the society itself shall fill up vacancies, these and other questions will easily be determined by congress.

It will be necessary that the society should have a library consisting of a complete collection of all writings concerning languages of every sort, ancient and modern. They must have some officers and some other expenses which will make some small funds indispensably necessary. Upon a recommendation from congress, there is no doubt but the legislature of every State in the confederation would readily pass a law making such a society a body politic, enable it to sue and be sued, and to hold an estate, real or personal, of a limited value in that State.

THOMAS JEFFERSON

Letter to John Waldo

(1813)

Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, was the third president of the United States. A lifelong autodidact, Jefferson had a keen interest in linguistics, speaking four languages and reading even more. He was particularly fascinated by Modern English’s roots in Anglo-Saxon, also known as Old English. Jefferson was the founder of the University of Virginia, which became the first school in American history to offer a college course on Anglo-Saxon at Jefferson’s urging. In the following letter to John Waldo, written on August 16, 1813, Jefferson describes his views of linguistic purity. Jefferson also wrote on the historical significance of Anglo-Saxon and provides analysis of its linguistic structure in a piece called "An Essay or Introductory Lecture towards Facilitating Instruction in the Anglo-Saxon and Modern Dialects of the English Language, for the Use of the University of