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RIP: Richard Mitchell, the Underground Grammarian
Prof. Nathan Carb, Rowan University ^ | January 27, 2003 | Self

Posted on 01/27/2003 9:09:31 AM PST by Physicist

I am saddened to learn that Richard Mitchell, the Underground Grammarian, died at his home on December 27th of 2002. The English language lies all but prostrate and defenseless with the passing of its ablest defender.

If you are not familiar with his works, you are in for a treat. All of them are available online, available for free use, up to and including rank plagiarism.

I have just spoken with Prof. Nathan Carb, the chairman of the English department of Rowan University. There will be a memorial service for Dr. Mitchell in the small concert hall of the Wilson Music Building at Rowan University at 7 pm on February 19th, 2003. Rowan University is located in Glassboro, NJ, which is southeast of Philadelphia, PA (directions to Rowan University).


TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Announcements; Culture/Society; Philosophy; US: New Jersey; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 2003obituary; genius; grammarian; obituary; richardmitchell; underground
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Many thanks to Prof. Carb for his kind attentions. May the memory of the Underground Grammarian live forever!
1 posted on 01/27/2003 9:09:31 AM PST by Physicist
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To: Physicist
Yo! Outstanding website for those who don't know nothin' 'bout no proper use of no English language. Great link - thanks!.
2 posted on 01/27/2003 9:12:40 AM PST by TomServo
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To: Physicist
I am saddened to learn that Richard Mitchell, the Underground Grammarian, died at his home on December 27th of 2002. The English language lies all but prostrate and defenseless with the passing of its ablest defender.

How sad! Though the latter sentence is untrue since, as Mitchell would be the first to say, his defense lives on in his books. They are as true and as powerful now as when he first wrote them. I have enjoyed reading them many times and have posted links to them on FR over the years. His The Graves of Academe reams current teacher education brilliantly and is especially useful in showing how and where and why it all started. I can't praise this book enough.
3 posted on 01/27/2003 9:19:07 AM PST by aruanan
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To: aruanan
If you liked Graves, you'll also like "I'm in Love with Norma Loquendi."
4 posted on 01/27/2003 9:27:24 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Physicist
Good stuff!

I'm adding the bookmark to my favorites.

Although in my case, having worked - and I use the word advisedly - my way through "Modern English Usage" by T.H. Fowler, I already feel like I've been to Grammar Boot Camp.
5 posted on 01/27/2003 9:30:34 AM PST by tictoc (A bump for crusty grammarians!)
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To: Physicist
His books are wonderful and the newsletters are hilarious, just the thing to start the day.

He will be missed.
6 posted on 01/27/2003 11:05:06 AM PST by wildbill
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To: Physicist
Maybe if somebody posted a sign along the lines of "PARK YOUR CAR'S FOR FREE" he would rise from the dead to rip it up.
7 posted on 01/27/2003 11:12:55 AM PST by steve-b
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I'm in Love with Norma Loquendi.

I'll look for it in the library. Thanks!

Have you read Paradigms lost, reflections on literacy and its decline by John Simon? It's pretty good.
8 posted on 01/27/2003 11:45:33 AM PST by aruanan
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To: aruanan
Its a book by William Safire of the NYT.
9 posted on 01/27/2003 1:16:29 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
I'm getting it (as well as the Simon book--I haven't read it for about 15 years) in just a few minutes.
10 posted on 01/27/2003 1:18:51 PM PST by aruanan
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To: aruanan
My most recent book buying has been about architecture--Frank Lloyd Wright, Green and Green, etc. We used many of their styles in our new home here in the Missouri Ozarks.
The most difficult book to get through was "Pattern Language," by Chris Alexander (and others). It was listed in the bibliography of Sarah Susanka's book, "The Not So Big House." Lot of good ideas, but 800 pages. Whew !
11 posted on 01/27/2003 1:55:31 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: steve-b
"PARK YOUR CAR'S FOR FREE"

Virtue is it's own reward.

12 posted on 01/27/2003 1:58:11 PM PST by js1138
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To: Physicist
save
13 posted on 01/27/2003 2:00:07 PM PST by Barset
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To: js1138
Virtue is its own reward.

A pun is its own reword.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

14 posted on 01/27/2003 4:34:14 PM PST by LonePalm (Iron Chef New Jersey)
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To: LonePalm
"broken glass ?"
15 posted on 01/27/2003 4:38:36 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
"broken glass ?"

I take it you are inquiring about my signature block. Here is the story of how I became the Broken Glass Republican.

Broken Glass Republican Original Thread

I had only been on FR a few days when the USS Cole was bombed in Yemen. I am a former Naval Officer and was extremely upset with the way x42(i) and his minions were handling the whole affair. I had written about a two page reply to a post. After reading it over I decided to can the reply and start my first thread. Broken Glass Republican.

This was picked up by Byron York in his article Year of the Broken Glass Republican, Peggy Noonan in The Meaning of the Vote and Broken Glass Republicans and Rush mentioned us several times on the air. I received very nice return e-mails from Byron and Peggy when I claimed credit for originating the phrase and gave them the original link. It seems that Byron York's sister is a FReeper and he heard it over dinner from her. Peggy Noonan got it from Byron and Rush got it from Peggy.

This was also the origin of my signature block. My family's motto is "Garde la Foi(Keep the Faith)." I paired that with GWB's comment that "Help is on the way." It changed over time to what you see below. I have had several people complain about my french grammar, but it is correct. I deliberately used the reflexive to add emphasis. Saving our country is not up to someone else, it is our responsibility.

I hope this answers your question.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

16 posted on 01/27/2003 5:03:08 PM PST by LonePalm (Iron Chef New Jersey)
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To: Physicist
Clear writing leads to clear thinking, which is threatening to the left.

Thank you Dr. Mitchell, now you reside with the master typesetter.
17 posted on 01/27/2003 5:21:49 PM PST by Leisler (Orwell and Mitchell Forever!)
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To: steve-b
There was a guy in my Minneapolis office who never saw an "s" that couldn't be modified with an apostrophe, no matter how bizzare.
18 posted on 01/27/2003 6:20:49 PM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Eric in the Ozarks
Have you seen the Robie house? It's about 4 blocks from where I live. There's a house on Woodlawn Ave. I saw that I thought had to be a F.L. Wright. It was a 3 story sort of Victorian-looking thing, but had a lot of features that reminded me of certain F.L. Wright furniture and stained glass.
19 posted on 01/27/2003 7:29:12 PM PST by aruanan
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Comment #20 Removed by Moderator


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