Bryan Garner on David Foster Wallace and modern American usage.

Language Guru Bryan Garner Doesn't Mince Words About Steven Pinker’s Sense of Style

Language Guru Bryan Garner Doesn't Mince Words About Steven Pinker’s Sense of Style

Risks and rewards of the creative life.
May 18 2015 4:21 PM

Bryan Garner on David Foster Wallace, Steven Pinker, and Why Language Matters

The lexicographer and author of Modern American Usage discusses the DFW essay that changed his life.

Bryan Garner.
Bryan Garner.

Photo byWynn Fuqua

Listen to this episode of The Moment with guest Bryan Garner:

This week on The Moment, Brian Koppelman’s guest is Bryan Garner, author, lexicographer, and subject of David Foster Wallace’s essay "Authority and American Usage." Garner talks about his book, Modern American Usage, and how his life changed after Wallace’s essay ran in both Harper’s and the book Consider the Lobster.

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Koppelman and Garner also cover their mutual love of language and why descriptivists and prescriptivists just can’t get along. Other highlights include Garner’s personal warmth for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Garner’s take on why Steven Pinker’s new book on language “isn’t very good,” and the debate on whether or not prescriptivists may have literally lost the fight on the definition of literally.

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Brian Koppelman is a filmmaker (Rounders, Solitary Man), essayist, and podcaster. His latest project is the upcoming Showtime series Billions.