The Fight for English

Angst over the apostrophe and hysteria over hyphens: the English language has become a combat zone. But why are people so passionate about language? And how have the arguments over English usage come about?

Taking the long view, David Crystal charts the clashes from Anglo-Saxon times via the language of Shakespeare and Samuel Johnson to our own time of texting and the greengrocer’s apostrophe. And he draws on a lifetime’s experience and expertise to present the compelling case for saying no to zero tolerance.