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American Slang Goes Back Further than You Might Think

Linguist Geoff Nunberg comments on the history of slang, and refers to two books about it: Johnathan Lighter's Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang (1994) and "Flappers 2 Rappers" by Tom Dalzell (1997).

04:38
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Other segments from the episode on March 19, 1997

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 19, 1997: Interview with David Zucchino; Commentary on slang; Interview with John Gregory Dunne; Review of U2's album "Pop."
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21:30

Dispelling the "Myth of the Welfare Queen"

Foreign editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer, David Zucchino. In his new book "Myth of the Welfare Queen," he turns his attention to his own town, Philadelphia, where he follows the lives of two welfare mothers, Odessa Williams and Cheri Honkala. One reviewer writes, "David Zucchino has shattered unequivocally the stereotype of women receiving welfare."

Interview
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13:50

A Screenwriter Bends to the Will of Movie Producers

Screenwriter John Gregory Dunne. He and his wife, writer Joan Didion, have been working in film for 25 years. Their latest project was the screenplay for "Up Close and Personal" the movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford, based very losely on the Jessica Savitch story. In Dunne's new book "Monster: Living off the Big Screen" (Random House) he chronicles their eight year odyssey with the project.

Interview
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05:33

U2 Flirts with Selling Out

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Pop" (Island Records) the newest release by the Irish rock band "U2", their first in four years. It incorporates a lot of techno elements and other contemporary influences.

Review

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05:00

Oh, Whatever.

Language commentator Geoffrey Nunberg comments on interjections in modern slang.
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Commentary

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