5 ms·

I haven't read the article yet, but McWhorter is the mastermind behind Lexicon Valley, a linguistics podcast and perhaps my favorite podcast of all times. McWho

I haven't read the article yet, but McWhorter is the mastermind behind Lexicon Valley, a linguistics podcast and perhaps my favorite podcast of all times. McWhorter is both a bona-fide expert and a thoughtful, funny communicator - a rare combination. Oh, and he's also into musical theater, as you will learn very, very quickly if you listen to any Lexicon Valley episode. https://slate.com/podcasts/lexicon-valley https://slate.com/podcasts/lexicon-valley

perardi 6y ago
I would second this recommendation. A great podcast, and said podcast lends credence to McWhorter not being some fire-breathing MAGA chud. His defense and explanations of creoles and African-American Vernacular English are wonderful. (On the musical theater bit: some people will hate McWhorter for his heterodoxy on race. I hate him for making me listen to scratchy showtunes to get to the good content.)
dandersh 6y ago
Oh I'm definitely going to check that out. I've always been a fan of his writing and think he does a great job of making linguistics accessible to the general public. If I had been exposed to his writing in high school I definitely could see myself going into the field. By chance have you ever listened to the Conlangery podcast? It's primarily about constructed languages but there's a lot of info and cool factoids about natural languages contained within.
posterboy 6y ago
> McWhorter is the mastermind behind Lexicon Valley, not exactly, no. He took the show over from a duo of other hosts. He is a professor of linguistics and author of the bastard-tongue book. He is not an expert on sociology, though socio-linguistics is part of the curiculum. Neither is he a expert on history, politics, or all what linguisticis may be tangentially related to (everything!!1). What he does seem to have on lock down is showmanship and theatrical inventory, but the latter part I'm sure is procured by a team behind the show. It's fa-bu-lush
dragonwriter 6y ago
> McWhorter is both a bona-fide expert On linguistics? I'm willing to assume that for the sake of argument. On racial politics? Given his writing on that issue (and not just the current piece) the generous assumption is “no, not at all, he's just a blowhard that's been given a platform because he can spin a tale that people in power like to hear well”. Being a “bona fide expert” in a different field plus being black doesn't make you an expert on racial politics/social movements.
- f154hfds 6y ago
  How many books does one have to put out on a subject before you decide they can be called an expert? (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/17151107.John_McWhorter https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/17151107.John_McWhorte...) John McWhorter (and Glen Loury) have hosted a podcast for 14 years on the issue of race in America. You may not like what they have to say, but to say they aren't 'qualified' is ridiculous and it denigrates their work. They are as capable of lending insight into the enigma that is 21st century Black America as any living person.
  - pseudalopex 6y ago
    I don't know if John McWhorter is an expert on racial politics. I do know having opinions and a platform isn't the same thing.
    - f154hfds 6y ago
      I have opinions on you, but I wouldn't call myself an expert. If, however, I held a podcast on you discussing your actions and behaviors for 14 years, and had written 4 books chronicling your exploits (not including a new one about to be published) and had reached hundreds of thousands of people with a robust interpretation of who you are and what you care about - I'd say most would call me an expert? If some random person on the internet refused to call me an expert after devoting such an extensive portion of my life to understanding you, does that say more about them or about me? This whole credentialism has got to stop. If you don't want to hear opposing ideology so be it but flippantly saying McWhorter's ideas aren't worth your time because he doesn't have a sociology PhD is offensive.

perardi 6y ago

I would second this recommendation. A great podcast, and said podcast lends credence to McWhorter not being some fire-breathing MAGA chud. His defense and explanations of creoles and African-American Vernacular English are wonderful. (On the musical theater bit: some people will hate McWhorter for his heterodoxy on race. I hate him for making me listen to scratchy showtunes to get to the good content.)

dandersh 6y ago

Oh I'm definitely going to check that out. I've always been a fan of his writing and think he does a great job of making linguistics accessible to the general public. If I had been exposed to his writing in high school I definitely could see myself going into the field. By chance have you ever listened to the Conlangery podcast? It's primarily about constructed languages but there's a lot of info and cool factoids about natural languages contained within.

posterboy 6y ago

> McWhorter is the mastermind behind Lexicon Valley, not exactly, no. He took the show over from a duo of other hosts. He is a professor of linguistics and author of the bastard-tongue book. He is not an expert on sociology, though socio-linguistics is part of the curiculum. Neither is he a expert on history, politics, or all what linguisticis may be tangentially related to (everything!!1). What he does seem to have on lock down is showmanship and theatrical inventory, but the latter part I'm sure is procured by a team behind the show. It's fa-bu-lush

dragonwriter 6y ago

> McWhorter is both a bona-fide expert On linguistics? I'm willing to assume that for the sake of argument. On racial politics? Given his writing on that issue (and not just the current piece) the generous assumption is “no, not at all, he's just a blowhard that's been given a platform because he can spin a tale that people in power like to hear well”. Being a “bona fide expert” in a different field plus being black doesn't make you an expert on racial politics/social movements.

f154hfds 6y ago
How many books does one have to put out on a subject before you decide they can be called an expert? (https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/17151107.John_McWhorter https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/17151107.John_McWhorte...) John McWhorter (and Glen Loury) have hosted a podcast for 14 years on the issue of race in America. You may not like what they have to say, but to say they aren't 'qualified' is ridiculous and it denigrates their work. They are as capable of lending insight into the enigma that is 21st century Black America as any living person.
- pseudalopex 6y ago
  I don't know if John McWhorter is an expert on racial politics. I do know having opinions and a platform isn't the same thing.
  - f154hfds 6y ago
    I have opinions on you, but I wouldn't call myself an expert. If, however, I held a podcast on you discussing your actions and behaviors for 14 years, and had written 4 books chronicling your exploits (not including a new one about to be published) and had reached hundreds of thousands of people with a robust interpretation of who you are and what you care about - I'd say most would call me an expert? If some random person on the internet refused to call me an expert after devoting such an extensive portion of my life to understanding you, does that say more about them or about me? This whole credentialism has got to stop. If you don't want to hear opposing ideology so be it but flippantly saying McWhorter's ideas aren't worth your time because he doesn't have a sociology PhD is offensive.