“A Note on the Mid Back Slack Unrounded Vowel [a] in the English of Today”

“The landlord crossed himself when they checked in, but an English ten-pound note for a week’s lodging overcame whatever superstitious misgivings the man may have had.”

“He studied in English medium and that is how he speaks such good English in movies now. If he had studied further, he would have become a doctor or engineer today.”

“Each thing by Destiny
So hastens to grow worse, and backward goes;
As one against a stream his Vessel rowes,
Who if by chance his arm a little slack,
The Boat in the swift Chanel hurries back.”

“There ain't a note that I play on stage that can’t be traced back directly to my mother and father.”

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.”

“It is of interest to note that while some dolphins are reported to have learned English - up to fifty words used in correct context - no human being has been reported to have learned dolphinese.”

“Jihad is the signature tune of Islamic history. If today’s Muslim rulers are reluctant to sound that note, it is often because they are concerned about the consequences of failure.”

“Boys! Are they always this impossible? Do they always say cryptic, indecipherable things? (Note
to self: work with Liz to adapt her boy-to-English translator into a more mobile form—like maybe a
watch or necklace.)”

“An armed people are a free people. If our forefathers were not armed before the American Revolution we would all be speaking English today.”