Who wrote The American Language?

Who wrote The American Language?

• A. Mark Twain
• B. Ralph Waldo Emerson
• C. Henry James
• D. H. L. Mencken

Answer: (D)

This question hinges on knowing a landmark work in American linguistics and its author. The American Language was written by H. L. Mencken, a journalist and cultural critic, published in 1919. The book surveys American English across regions and social groups, showing how vocabulary, pronunciation, and usage diverged from British English and evolved with American life—capturing new coinages, slang, and idioms that reflect the nation’s history and diversity. The other writers listed—Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry James—are celebrated authors, but they did not author this linguistic study.

This question hinges on knowing a landmark work in American linguistics and its author. The American Language was written by H. L. Mencken, a journalist and cultural critic, published in 1919. The book surveys American English across regions and social groups, showing how vocabulary, pronunciation, and usage diverged from British English and evolved with American life—capturing new coinages, slang, and idioms that reflect the nation’s history and diversity. The other writers listed—Mark Twain, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry James—are celebrated authors, but they did not author this linguistic study.