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Worries Over Illiteracy

Linguist Geoff Nunberg unpacks worries about different kinds of cultural and technical illiteracy--which he believes could more accurately be described as ignorance. Nunberg says we should be more concerned with the often overlooked problem of functional illiteracy.

03:32
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Other segments from the episode on July 1, 1987

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, July 1, 1987: Interview with Joan Baez; Review of John Gibbons' album "A Bach Recital"; Interview with Jody Pinto; Commentary on illiteracy.
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27:11

Finding "A Voice to Sing With"

As a teenager at the beginning of her folk career, Joan Baez played mostly sad, traditional songs. She later became an icon to teenage girls in the 1960s, played with Bob Dylan, and pursued political activism.

Musicians Joan Baez and Bob Dylan
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06:52

A Magnificent "Bach Recital"

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz says that John Gibbons' new record of Bach's music showcases the performer's mastery of the harpsichord.

Review
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09:51

The Body and Architecture

Jody Pinto is an installation artist whose work is inspired by the contours of the human body. Her newest piece, Fingerspan, is a bridge that extends throughout Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. It is her first major permanent work.

Interview

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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08:38

Ironic, Informal And Expressive, 'New Rules Of Language' Evolve Online

With all our texting, tweeting and social media posting, billions of people are using typed words for the kind everyday communication that used to happen more often in conversation. A new book argues that we’ve created a unique new language to reproduce the shades of meaning that we used to convey verbally. Our linguist Geoff Nunberg reflects on the new rules of language that he calls chat-speak.

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