H. L. Mencken 
American Language [PDF ebook] 
A Preliminary Inquiry Into the Development of English in the United States

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. Ernest Walker says in his book on English surnames, be doomed to the waste-basket by harassed executors. If the opportunity offers in future I shall undoubtedly return to the subject. For one thing, li am eager to attempt a more scientific examination of the grammar of the American vulgar speech, here discussed briefly in Chapter VI. For another thing, I hope to make further inquiries into the subject of American surnames of non-english origin. Various other fields invite. No historical study of American pronunciation exists; the influ ence of German, irish-english, Yiddish and other such immi grant dialects upon American has never been investigated; there is no adequate treatise on Merican geographical names. Contributions of materials and suggestions for a possible revised edition of the present book will reach me if addressed to me in care of the publisher at 220 West Forty-second Street, New York. I shall also be very grateful for the correction of errors, some perhaps typographical but others due to faulty information or mistaken judgment.