Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Harley (1712) and The British Academy (1712)

By Mr. (John) Oldmixon

(3.5 stars) • 10 reviews

A controversial proposal to standardize English ignites a fiery debate, exposing political tensions and questioning who truly has the authority to shape language.

Genres

History - General Language & Communication

Released

2008-04-19

Formats

epub (images)

mobi

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mobi (images)

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Summary

"Reflections on Dr. Swift's Letter to Harley" by John Oldmixon is a sharp critique of a famous writer's plan to create an official group to control the English language. The author immediately doubts the honesty behind the letter, suggesting it’s more about the writer's ego than actually fixing the language. He brings up the big political fight between two groups, showing how language rules could make things even more divided. Overall, it shows a deep disagreement about whether language should be controlled and who should get to decide, highlighting struggles over language and power in a changing society.