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Date: 9—20-uo

NOTE: Please type or use pencilto facilitate duplication.

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITYNEWS AND INFORMATION SERVICE

108 ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

Form 44G9—Rev. 1/GO

CORBtTT, i’Jb P[LTRICK JOHName .. ... .

(Please print your name in full) Last Name 1st Name 2nd Name

239 . Torrence Rd.

Present Position or Rank (with date)..P.Lc S S or o_ng1isbnd Jirector of Freshma

n1ish].ish

Children (please name) ; Give Dates of Birth..

I’1ary 11i3iJeC. ?D, 194’j_James

Patrick. ept. 10, 1949 John iidward

Pov. 28, 1951; ilaureun and Catherine(twins), Dec ‘7, i93; Peter JT

-i 12, 19d1HighSéhool’or Preparatory SchooL...L...______________________________

iiarcuette High Jchool, Hilwaukee ,hi

List earned degrees, and honorary degrees, stating institutions and date;

College or University Degree

Venard College, Pa. B 1942

L!nlversity of Chicago NfL 1948

Loycia Univ., Chicago Ph.D. 1956

Scholarships or Fellowships Held, with dates.

Teaching Fe 11o;ship, Loyola Univ.

Date of Birth Oct ober 29

Place of Birth

1919

Jamestown. North DakotaCity County State

Father’s Name in John Thomas C or bet t

I

Mother’s Maiden Name, in Full .L0& Be pup re

Chicago, 1950—52.

Major Undergraduate Honors, Offices or

ii I£\ J.L L.a

ReligiousRoman Catholic

Are You Married?..._.Ias-_ t Date.JiQL. ±.., 1$4i

Wife’s Maiden Name in FulL_L1iiLL ..U.iiJ 1 —

or

Membership in Social Fraternity or Sorority.._

Home Address_(Street end number)

Columbus, U.LO Teleohone__________

Previous Positions or Ranks at Ohio State (with dates)

L.te

Husband’s Name in Full. (OVER)

Positions and ranks at other colleges, with datcs._ —

Instructors eihtun Univ. Omah,

19+8—5D; Instructor, Loyola Univ.

1 ctorçhton Univ.

ljitti_of.Creihto;,

rofosor. 1.9E.L—Business or professional experience, other than at colleges, with

Military Service (dates, branch, rank, honors)

tI 11 L t2p3 l j, cliiToc}pL

cia;;(i.rCo;’ps) ; taff—t_iar sIn;ll Is lands azjci China

Memberships in service, civic, fraternal, honorary, church, trade, educational,scientific, professional organizations, with offices held and dates:

iiotirn__La;iu .,s soc jati on: Latiena

L 3C.Ll Oj.__ OCIL •

Coferer1ect or; College Composition nJ

Ccmuiioaticn ( cretary tL9—66) LUP; President of Pebraska Council

of Teaclrs of English, ]9&__

Special field of re;earch or teaching (explain) or description of presnt duties

i:hte ait.Century Litrature

iirPirectj of the Freshmir

i1aj’y,

June..÷ 1966

Other information (include honors received, inventions, etcj_

Considerable stace experience wltfl

Omaha Cuiuiunity Theater; major roles

in INHCFJT T iIiW, PIiYiiCIiiih FOR

FUCL, TH p(TTT; nu ,Tn, POORDL; Campbell award for best SUn1)ort-ins; act or for C ommor han Lai 1 O1php P 1

have macic local and network T

commercials.

____ __________________

Service on University Boards, Councils, Committees, with dotes.._ —

I3oardoiOireetorst._John’s

C

Major publications

_________

_cic R1LiODERI

TUDi.tRT__(Oxford Uni ye rsi Prss, —

65);Collg Composition arid Cornmunicatio:

C ommor;weal, america, ticri

news fom

I flatlOflal. councft of t€aCh€PS of entflishiiii kenyon PoaO • uRbana, iflinois 61801tel.CPhOfle (217) 32$-3$70

For Immediate Release Edward P. J. Corbett Named Editorof College Composition and Communication

Edward P. 1. Corbett, professor and vice chairman of the Department of English

at Oh-jo State University, will assume the editorship of the journal, College Compo

sition and Communication, beginning with the February issue, 1974. He succeeds

William F. Irmscher of the Department of English, University of Washington, who

has served as editor since 1968. Announcement of Corbett’s appointment to the

editorship of this quarterly professional publication was made by James D. Barry,

Loyola University, Chicago, chairman of the Conference on College Composition and

Communication, a group within the National Council of Teachers of English.

Among Ccrbett’s plans for College Composition and Communication are clusters

of articles around a common theme, reviews of teaching materials, and emphasis

on English teaching in community and junior colleges.

Corbett, who in addition to his other duties at Ohio State, directs thec

university’s freshman English program, is a specialist in 18th century literature

and rhetoric with a bachelor’s degree from Venard College, Pennsylvania, a master’s

degree from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. from Loyola University of

Chicago (1956). Born in Jamestown, North Dakota, he began his teaching career

as an instructor at Creighton University, 1948—1950, and was an instructor at

Loyola University in 1952—53. He returned to Creighton as an instructor in 1953

and became assistant professor in 1954, associate professor in 1957, and professor

in 1961. He joined the Ohio State faculty in 1966. He lives at 239 E.

Torrence Rd., Colur±us.

Robert F. Hogan William J. Scannell Diane H. AllenExecutive Secretary Director of Pub/ic /nformation Pub/ic Re/a tions Associate

and Membership Deve/opment

2

Corbett is the author of Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student (1965),

and articles which have appeared in College English, Commonweal, America, The

Nation, and College Composition and Communication. He has edited several books

including Teaching High School Composition, with Gary Tate (1970); Teaching

Freshman Composition, also in collaboration with Tate (1967); Rhetorical Analyses

of Literary Works (1969); and The Rhetoric of Blair, Campbell, and Whately, with

James L. Golden (1968). Drama is Corbett’s avocation, and he appeared in major

roles in a number of community theater productions in Omaha during his years

at Creighton University.

One of seven journals published by the National Council of Teachers of

English, College Composition and Communication focuses on the teaching of writing

and related topics at the college level. The National Council of Teachers of

English is a professional organization made up of both individual and institutional

members at all levels of instruction. Its goal is to increase the effectiveness

of the teaching of the English language and its literature in the nation’s

schools and colleges.

DHA: 2/5/73

Faculty InformationServiceOF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS SERVICES

BIOGRAPHY OF EDWARD P.J. CORBETT

Dr. Edward P.J. Corbett i prcfesor of English at

Ohio State University. He also served as vice-chairman of

the department and director of the university’s freshman

English program from 1966-71.

A native of Jamestown, N.D., he received the bach

elor’s degree from Venard College (Pa.) in 1942, master’s

from the University of Chicago in 1948, and Ph.D. from

Loyola University of Chicago in 1956.

Dr. Corbett, a specialist in 18th-century literature

and rhetoric, held a teaching fellowship at Loyola Univer

sity from 1950—52.

He began his teaching career as an instructor at

Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., from 1948-50. He was

an instructor at Loyola University in 1952-53. He returned

to Creighton in 1953 as an instructor and was promoted to

assistant professor in 1954, associate professor in 1957

and professor in 1961.

He joined the Ohio State faculty in July, 1966.

Dr. Corliett is the author of “Classical Rhetoric for

the Modern Student,” Oxford University Press, 1965, and

second edition, 1971; “Teaching Freshman Composition,”

edited with Gary Tate, Oxford University Press, 1967;

“The Rhetoric of Blair, Campbell, and Whately,” edited

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Dr. Corbett - 2

with James L. Golden (also of Ohio State University)

Ilolt, Rinehart and Winston, 1968; “Rhetorical Analysis

of Literary Works,” Oxford University Press, 1969;

“Teaching High School Composition,” edited with Gary Tate,

Oxford University Press, 1970; “The Little English Hand

book: Choices and Conventions,” John WiIc’r and Sons,

1973, and “The Essay: Subjects and Stances,” Prentice—

lIall, 1974. He has written articles appearing in “College

English,” “College Composition and Communication,” “Com

monwealth,” “America” and “Nation.”

He served as general editor of Charles E. Merrill’s

literary casebook series and advisory editor for John L.

Wiley, Publishers, Inc.

In March, 1970, he served as program chairman for

the annual convention of the Conference on College Compo

sition and Communication in Seattle, Wash., and in 1971,

he served as chairman of this organization.

He had considerable stage experience with the Omaha

Community Theater, playing major roles in “Inherit the

Wind,” “Physicians for Fools,” “The Potting Shed” and “Oh,

Dad, Poor Dad.” In 1966, he received an award as best

supporting actor in the Omaha Playhouse production of “A

Man for All Seasons.”

Dr. Corbett is a member of the Modern Language Assoc

iation, National Council of Teachers of English (director,

College Section, 1969—71, Executive Committee, 1971)

Conference on College Composition and Communication, and

the Speech Communication Association.

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Dr. Corbett - 3

He was president of the Nebraska Council of Teachers

of English in 1965—66 and the president of the English

Association of Ohio in 1971-72. He served as associate

editor of the “Quarterly Journal of Speech” and is cur

rently editor of “College Compo5ition and Communication”

and a member of the editorial hoard of “Philosophy and

Rhetoric.” He is president of the RhLuic Society of

America and a member of the National Council of Teachers

of English Committee on Public Doublespeak.

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-46,

reaching the rank of staff—sergeant.

Dr. Corbett and his wife, Sylvia, are the parents of

seven children. The family resides at 239 E. Torrence Rd.,

Columbus, 43214.

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Some pertinent information:

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY

EDWARD P.J. CCRBETT (born in Jameston, ND)

former Director of Freshman English and Vict Chairman of the Department, Ohio St.teUniversity, 1966—1970

former Director of Freshman English, Creighton University, Omaha, l53-lS66

PresidentPresidentChairman,Executivelerber ofMember ofMember of

of the Nebraska Council of Teachers of English, 1965of English Association of Ohio, 1971; Currently, Advisor to EAOConference on College Composition and Communication, 1971Committee of National Council of Tchers of English, 1971the NCTE Committee on Public DoeIrak, 197%-the NCTE Commission on Compositi:.. 1975-l1A Delegate Assembly, 1974—76

Editor of College Composition and Communiction, 1974-Associate Editor of çuarterly Journal of ech, 1972—74Editorial Board of Philosop & Rhetoric

Chairman of the Rhetoric Society of America, 1973-

Some Publications:

Cla;sical Rhetoric for the Modern Student (exfrrd University Press, 2nd ed. 1971)Rhetorical ina1yses of Literar; Works (Oxford University Press, 1969)Teaching Freshman Composition, edited with Gary Tate (Oxford University Press, 156?)Teaching Hirh School Composition, edited ch Gary Tate (Oxford University Press, ]970)The Little dnJish iLnbook: Choices and C:irntiorts (John Wiley & Jons, 1973)The Essay: Subjects and Stanc(entice—i11, i974)

Address:

Professor Edward P.J. CorbettDepartment of EnglishOhio State UniversityColumbus, OH 43210

DepartmentofEnglLsh / IMWest l7thAvenue / Columbus,Ohio 43210 / Phone(614)422-6065

VITA

EDWARD PJ. CORBETT, Professor of English, Ohio State University

Department of EnglishOhio State University

Columbus, OH 43210

Office phone: (614) 422—6866

EDUCATION

M..A.. University of Chicago., 1948Ph.D. Loyola University of Chicago, 1956Dissertation: “HLtgh Blair: A Study of His Rhetorical Theory” 1956

OFFICES AND POSITIONS HELD

Professor of English, Ohio State University. 1966—Director of Freshman English and Vice Chairman of the

Department, Ohio State University. 1966—1970Director of Freshman English and eventually Professor of

English, Creighton University, Omaha, NB, 1948—50; 1953—66President of the Nebraska Council of Teachers of English, 1965President of the English Association of Ohio, 1971; Advisor to

EAO, 1973—1979Chairman, Conference on College Composition and Communication

CCCCC), 1971Executive Committee of the National Council of Teachers of

English fNCTE), 1971Member of the NCTE Committee on Public Doublespeak, 1974—Member of the NCTE Commission on Composition, 1975—1979Member of the MLA Delegate Assembly, 1974—1976Member of Executive Committee of the MLA Division on the

Teaching of Writing, 1976—1979Associate Editor of tuarterly Journal of Speech. 1972—1974Editor of CalleQe Composition and Communication (CCC), 1974—1979Editorial Board of Philosophy & Rhetoric, 1973—Editorial Board of Style, 1979—Editorial Board of Rocky Mountain Review of LanQuaQe

Literature, 1979—Advisory Board of Journal of Basic Writing, 1981—Editorial Board of Rhetoric Review, 1982—Chairman of the Rhetoric Society of America, 1973—1977; Executive

Secretary, 1980—CCCC Representative to the College Section of NCTE. 1982—Consultant for Educational Testing Service (ETS) on revision of

the Basic Skills part of the National Teacher Examination(NTE), 1980—

Edward P 3 Corbett/ 2

SOME PUBL I CAT I ONS

Classical Rhetoric for the Modern Student (Oxford UniversityPress, 1965; 2nd ed. 1971)

Rhetorical Analyses of Literary Works (Oxford University Press,1969)

Teaching Freshman Composition, edited with Gary late (OxfordUniversity Press, 1967)

Teaching High School Composition, edited with Gary Tate (OxfordUniversity Press, 1970)

The Writing Teacher’s Sourcebook, edited with Gary Tate (OxfordUniversity Press, 1981)

The Rhetoric of Blair., Campbell., and Whately, edited with JamesL. Golden (Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1968; reprinted 1980)

The Essay: Subjects and Stances (Prentice—Hall, 1974)General Editor of the Charles E. Merrill Literary Casebook

Series, 22 casebooks on short literary works, 1968—1971The Little English Handbook: Choices and Conventions. 3rd ed.

(Scott, Foresman, 1981)The Little Rhetoric and Handbook, 2nd ed. (Scott, Foresman, 1982)The Little English Handbook for Canadians, with James Bell (John

Wiley of Canada, 2nd ed. 1982 (an adaptation of The LittleEnglish Handbook for the Canadian market)

The Little Rhetoric and Handbook with Readings (Scott, Foresman,1983)

NCTE 76th Annual Convention

November 21—26. 1986

Convention News Sin Antonio, Texas

CONTACT: Diane Allen NCTE Convention NewsroomNCTE Public Relations Associate (217) 328—3870 San Antonio Convention CenterNewsroom (from Nov. 20): (512) 270—2950, —2951 Room 105, first floor

FOR RELEASE P.M.’s FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1986

EDWARD P. J. CORBETT HONOREDFOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BY NC1E

SAN ANTONIO, NOVEMBER 21——Edward P. J. Corbett of Ohio State University was

honored today by the National Council of Teachers of English for his service to

the English teaching profession, to students of rhetoric, and to NCTE. At the

Board of Directors Meeting during NCTE’s 76th Annual Convention at the Hyatt

Regency Hotel today, Corbett received the Council’s Distinguished Service Award.

NCTE President—elect Nancy McHugh, who made the presentation, hailed Corbett

as an exceptional teacher, writer, and editor who has worked energetically

throughout his 34—year career to enhance the teaching of rhetoric and literature.

“A sign on his wall says, ‘Quiet. Rhetorician at work,’” said McHugh, a

teacher of high school English in Van Nuys, California. “But his door is always

open. It is seldom quiet within, because students flock to see Professor

Corbett, to gain his advice, sample his wisdom, receive his encouragement and

comfort. Concerned with truth and with grace, clarity, and style, Edward Corbett

has his priorities straight. . . . He has empowered several generations of young

people,” she added, among them “hundreds of brilliant scholars.”

Corbett’s Little English Handbook, McHugh, noted, has been used by more than

600,000 students and writers. Besides writing other books and articles, Corbett

1EinaT Cunci tf Teachers of Enlish (more)11 Ken’.on Road. trhana. ttlinois 1O1

(217) 328—3870

Tis.inguislied Service Award — 2

has served as editor of College Composition and Communication and has edited or

served on editorial boards of other journals, among them Philosophy and Rhetoric,

Quarterly Journal of Speech, Journal of Basic Writing, and Rhetoric Review. His

wide range of professional activities has included service as national chair of

the Conference on College Composition and Communication, as chair of the College

Section of NCTE and member of the NCTE Executive Committee, as a member of the

NCTE Commission on Composition, and as president of NCTE affiliate groups in

Nebraska and Ohio. Corbett has also served as a member of the Delegate Assembly

of the Modern Language Association and of the Executive Committee of the MLA

Division on the Teaching of Writing. In addition, he has chaired the Rhetoric

Society of America.

Corbett earned his M.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from

Loyola University, Chicago. He previously taught on those campuses and at

Creighton University, Omaha, where he was director of freshman English and

professor of English. At Ohio State University, he is currently vice chair of

the English Department and previously served as director of freshman English.

The Ohio State University

NEi’SNews Services1 125 Kinnear RoadColumbus, Ohio 43212-1153

Phone 614—292—2711

Forrelease on receipt 112286

(LO-CM, SP)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- An Ohio State University faculty member has

been honored for his contributions to the teaching of English.

Edward P.J. Corbett, professor of English, received a

Distinguished Service Award from the National Council of Teachers

of English during its 76th annual convention on Friday (11/21) in

San Antonio, Texas.

Corbett lives at 239 E. Torrence Road (43214).

Nancy McHugh, council president-elect, said Corbett has

worked throughout his 34—year career to enhance teaching of

rhetoric and literature.

“A sign on his (office) wall says, ‘Quiet. Rhetorician at

work,’” McHugh said. “But his door is always open. It is seldom

quiet within because students flock to see Professor Corbett to

gain his advice, sample his wisdom, and receive his encouragement

and comfort.”

In addition to his teaching, Corbett has been honored for his

scholarly activities. Last year. he received one of Ohio State’s

highest faculty honors, the Distinguished Scholar Award.

In his 22-page vita , Corbett lists 108 books and

publications. The books include “Classical Rhetoric for the

Modern Student,’ “The Rhetoric of Blair, Campbell and Whately”

with James L. Golden, and “Rhetorical Analyses of Literary Works.”

—more—

CORBETT -- 2

Corbett’s best known book is the “Little English Handbook,” a

guide to using English. According to McHugh, more than 600.000

students and writers have used the text.

He also is involved in many professional organizations and

has served as editor or member of editorial boards for several

scholarly journals.

Corbett received his master’s degree from the University of

Chicago in 1948 and his doctorate from Loyola University in

1956. He taught at both univnrsities. In 1948—50 and from

1953—66, he was on the faculty of Creighton University, Omaha.

where he was director of freshman English and professor of

English.

He joined the Ohio State faculty in 1966 as a professor of

English. He directed the freshman English program and served as

vice chairman of the department from 1966—70.

“Concerned with truth and with grace, Edward Corbett has his

priorities straight,” McHugh told the members of the council.

“He has empowered several generations of young people, among them

hundreds of brilliant scholars.”

Contact: Edward Corbett, professor of English, at (614) 292—6866.Written by Gemma McLuckie. (G/95)

NCT’E 76th Annual Convention

November 21-26, 1986

Convention News San Antonio, Texas

CONTACT: Diane Allen NCTE Convention NewsroomNCTE Public Relations Associate (217) 328—3870 San Antonio Convention CenterNewsroom (from Nov. 20): (512) 270—2950, —2951 Room 105, first floor

‘ JI

FOR RELEASE P.M.’s FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1986

IEDWARD P. J. CORBETT HONOREDFOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE BY NCTE

SAN ANTONIO, NOVEMBER 21——Edward P. J. Corbett of Ohio State University was

honored today by the National Council of Teachers of English for his service to

the English teaching profession, to students of rhetoric, and to NCTE. At the

Board of Directors Meeting during NCTE’s 76th Annual Convention at the Hyatt

Regency Hotel today, Corbett received the Council’s Distinguished Service Award.

NCTE President—elect Nancy McHugh, who made the presentation, hailed Corbett

as an exceptional teacher, writer, and editor who has worked energetically

throughout his 34—year career to enhance the teaching of rhetoric and literature.

“A sign on his wail says, ‘Quiet. Rhetorician at work,’” said McHugh, a

teacher of high school English in Van Nuys, California. “But his door is always

open. It is seldom quiet within, because students flock to see Professor

Corbett, to gain his advice, sample his wisdom, receive his encouragement and

comfort. Concerned with truth and with grace, clarity, and style, Edward Corbett

has his priorities straight. . . . He has empowered several generations of young

people,” she added, among them “hundreds of brilliant scholars.”

Corbett’s Little English Handbook, McHugh, noted, has been used by more than

600,000 students and writers. Besides writing other books and articles, Corbett

National Council of Teachers of English (more)1111 Kenyon Road, Urbana. lIlinois6l8Ol(217) 32S—3870

Distinguished Service Award — 2

has served as editor of College Composition and Communication and has edited or

served on editorial boards of other journals, among them Philosophy and Rhetoric,

Quarterly Journal of Speech, Journal of Basic Writing, and Rhetoric Review. His

wide range of professional activities has included service as national chair of

the Conference on College Composition and Communication, as chair of the College

Section of NCTE and member of the NCTE Executive Committee, as a member of the

NCTE Commission on Composition, and as president of NCTE affiliate groups in

Nebraska and Ohio. Corbett has also served as a member of the Delegate Assembly

of the Modern Language Association and of the Executive Committee of the ILLA

Division on the Teaching of Writing. In addition, he has chaired the Rhetoric

Society of America.

Corbett earned his M.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from

Loyola University, Chicago. He previously taught on those campuses and at

Creighton University, Omaha, where he was director of freshman English and

professor of English. At Ohio State University, he is currently vice chair of

the English Department and previously served as director of freshman English.

EdwordFrom hs desk at Ohio Stoke UnLversityCorbett professor of English does batt’e with obuse of the mother

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ENGLISHAsShe IsMisspokeBy Steve Berry iMVf

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The attack can come from any quarter, anytime. A bureaucrat calls a prison a correctional institution. An educator refers to a

school desk as a pupil station. A military officialcalls a jeep a high-mobility muttipurpose wheeledvehicle.

And Edward P.J. CorbL a ssor fEnglish at Ohio State UnivejLy, cringes. His is a

nver-ending battle. Constant vigilance is required.Word watching is serious business.

In his fourth-floor office in Denney Nail,Corbett (the P.J. stands for Patrick Joseph) sitshunched over his typewriter. The office door isajar, and the clicketyclack of the keys echoes downthe tiled hallway. One of his books, The LittleEnglish Handbook, lies on the desk. More than500,000 copies have been sold of the grammarbook, which is in its third edition. A sign on thewall says “Quiet. Rhetorician at work.” Corbett,61, has studied and taught the art of effectivecommunication for 34 years.

Corbett and his fellow word watchers are outto rid the world of doublespeak — the ambiguousor deceptive talk that is the bane of Englishteachers and the refuge of pointy-headed bureaucrats. Their goal is to expose jargon, lambasteeuphemism, disentangle gibberish, excoriate cliches and deflate gobbtedygook

In an age in which we are bombarded withinformation, Corbett believes that some peoplehave lost the ability to distinguish truth from lies,fact from opinion, the logical from the illogical.“People must be able to take something that’strying to influence them and see what’s going on. Isthe wool being pulled over our eyes? Are we being

deceived? That ability is so vital to the health of ademocracy,” Corbett says as he removes his dark-rimmed glasses and settles back in his chair, “Ifyou’re going to make people their own rulers,they’ve got to be able to assess the dialogue goingon about them and make judicious choices.”

Corbett’s voice is not alone in the wilderness.In 1971, some other members of the NationalCouncil of Teachers of English were wprried too.The council set up a Committee on Public Double-speak to guard the clarity of the mother tongue,and Corbett has been a member of the watchdoggroup ever since. The committee’s name grew outof George Orwell’s political satire Nineteen Eighty-four, in which a propaganda ministry developsthe jargon of “Doublethink” and “Newspeak” toconfuse and mislead people.

Every autumn, Corbett and his compatriotsgather to bestow the Doublespeak Award of theyear for atrocities against the English language.One year the award went to a U.S. Air Forcecolonel who, after an American bombing raid inCambodia, complained to reporters: “You alwayswrite it’s bombing, bombing, bombing. It’s notbombing! It’s air support.” Last year — youguessed it — then-Secretary of State AlexanderHaig took top honors with such Haigisms as“caveat my response” and “saddle myself with astatistical fence.”

Another year the committee chose, at Corbett’s suggestion, Yasser Arafat, leader of thePalestine Liberation Organization, for his responseto a question in an interview with a Newsweekeditor:

Question: “The Israelis say this means youwant to destroy their state over the long terminstead of the short term.”

Answer: “They are wrong. We do not want todestroy any people. It is precisely because we havebeen advocating coexistence that we have shed somuch blood.”

Ronald Ziegler, then President Nixon’s presssecretary, had a winner one year with his classic:“That statement is now inoperative.” A congressman once declared, “I think that the free-enterprise system is absolutely too important to be leftto the voluntary action of the marketplace.” Thenthere was the college president who referred to the“economically nonaffluent.” One year the commit-

tee gave special recognition to General Joao Baptista Figueiredo, who, upon becoming Brazil’s president, promised, “1 intend to open this country upto democracy; and anyone who is against that I willjail, I will crush.”

In its Quarterly Review of Doublespeak, thecommittee points out offenses to the language. Thenewsletter noted earlier this year that passengerson an airline flight were told that the plane was“charter configured.” In piain English, that meant“an airplane designed to be five seats wide was sixseats wide with very little leg room between theseats.”

The committee takes its watchdog role seriously because, Corbett says, “Language is power.When you give people command of language, youinyest them with tremendous power over otherpeople. The crucial question is, do they use thatpower responsibly or irresponsibly?” In Corbett’sopinion, protecting the English language does notpreclude allowing it to grow and flower. “It’s thenature of language to change,” he says. “A lot ofpeople say change is usually for the worst. My viewis that change is not necessarily bad. People makethe language. But sometimes ft’s worth fighting forthe language”

Corbett mourns, for example, the blurring ofthe meanings of uninterested and disinterested.Strictly speaking, the former means bored, and thelatter means impartial. But in common use thewords have become synonymous. On the otherhand, Corbett doesn’t break out in a cold sweatwhen he hears the word hopefully used incorrectly.“When we say, ‘Hopefully, we will be able to payour taxes,’ nobody misunderstands what we mean.It communicates, though it violates certain logic.”

Make no mistake. Corbett deplores the improper use of the elements of language: grammar,punctuation, vocabulary. The he don’ts and themisspellings are sins, he says, but they are pardon-

able ones. He can sympathize with the grade-school child wrestling with subject-verb agreement.What really gets a rise out of Corbett is whenpeople use language so ineptly that you can’tunderstand them or when they use words to justplain deceive others.

“A lot of people are worried that kids can’tspell anymore, that they can’t make their subjectsand verbs agree,” Corbett says, pausing to run hisfingers through his tousled white hair. “They’retalking about the surface elements of language.There are some people more concerned about thatthan if people are speaking the truth. I want peopleto say he doesn’t, but my main concern is thatpeople can express themselves clearly, gracefullyand effectively.”

The key to using words effectively is having asense of the audience, Corbett says. Jargon isn’tnecessarily bad, as long as everyone present understands it. Slang can help enrich a language. Andeuphemism is a natural 1endency of human beings.‘There are times when we don’t want to call aspade a spade,” he says. “We call it instead anentrenching tool.”

But Corbett does put his foot down when itcomes to certain abuses of language. “I get excitedabout the use of this,” he says, the color rising inhis already ruddy cheeks. “At the beginning of asentence, this usually refers to a whole idea. Frequently, you cant tell what the idea is. Theproblem is increasing by leaps and bounds. It’s alamentable development because it results in abreakdown of communication. For me, it’s thecardinal sin. The littlest words are causing themost trouble.”

Corbett offered this example of an ambiguousthis: I enjoyed the sun and the sand, and thisrevealed to me that I really prefer a vacation at thebeach. Does this refer to the sun or sand or both orneither?

“I’m going to fight the improper use of this tomy dying day,” Corbett vows. “I think I’m fightinga losing battle; but I’m going to go down fighting.”Using words without precision, Corbett believes, isan unpardonable sin.

Languagewise, as A. Haig might say, Corbetthas processed a positive’input thought.

8/OSU onCampus/Apni 24, 1986

Distinguished Scholars

Edward P.J. CorbettEdward P.J. Corbett, professor of Englishat Ohio State since 1966, dedicated oneof his 13 books to his students, whosewritten prose sometimes mystified me,often enlightened rye, and invariablyDeguiled me.’ Most of his books ame forbeginning writers and discuss the processof how to write using rhetoric, the art ofeffective communication. Corbett receiveda master’s degree in 7948 from theUniversity of Chicago and a Ph.D. in 1956from Loyola University. From 1966-1 970at Ohio State, he directed the FreshmanEnglish program and was vice chairmanof the English department. In addition tohis many current professionalmemberships and six editorial positions,Corbett edited the College Compositionand Communication journal for six years.

THE OHf 0 STATE LANTERN Friday, May 4, 1990

English professor honored with roastBy Rebecca WaltersLantern staff writer

Ohio State held a roast Thursdaynight for an English professor whohas taught for nearly half a centuryand is one of the nation’s leadingrhetoricians.

Edward P. Corbett, professor ofEnglish, is retiring this quarter at theage of 70. A roast, planned by his colleagues, friends and family, was heldin his honor at the Parke Hotel.

“We are not just honoring the important accomplishments Corbetthas made, we are honoring the person,” John Gabel, professor of English, said.

“The university will miss himsorely. He is one of the two or threeimportant scholars of rhetoric in thenation.”

Arnold Shapiro, associate professor of English and vice chairman forthe English department, has knownCorbett since he first came to OhioState.

“He is one of the nicest human beings I have ever met,” Shapiro said.“He is unassuming and unpretentious. He is just wonderful.”

Corbett has been at Ohio State for42 years and has taught grammarand English courses, and the Bible asliterature. But he said he is bestknown as a rhetorician. Rhetoric isthe study of the art or science of per.suasive oratory.

The book “Classic Rhetoric for theModern Student,” which Corbettwrote while director of the Englishdepartment at Creighton Universityin Omaha, Neb., was the reason hewas invited to come to Ohio State toteach, he said.

Corbett came to Ohio State in 1966as a full professor and director of theEnglish department.

“I was frightened to death to cometo Ohio State,” Corbett said. “‘Thisuniversity was literally 10 times asbig as Creighton.”

At the time, Ohio State had thelargest freshman English section inthe country with about 10,000 students enrolling each year, he said.

This quarter Corbett is teaching agrammar course which he said he inherited from a young woman whostarted the course a number of yearsago.

“I’m not an expert in grammar, butI do have an interest in it.”

Corbett received his master’s degree in English from the Universityof Chicago in 1948. In 1956, he received his doctorate in English with aspecialization in 18th century literature from Loyola University in Chicago.

In 1992, mandatory retirement ofprofessors at age 70 will not be allowed. Corbett said he does not mindretiring but will miss the students themost.

“Being with young people is a challenge and it keeps me young, too.”

Corbett said he has seen many generations come and go.

One event Corbett finds most memorable is the ‘dust-ups on campusduring the late 1960s and early1970s,” he said. “I remember thewhole campus closing down for a 12-day period following the incidentwhere students were killed at KentState.”

Corbett said he was somewhat involved in the demonstrations becauseHp wn a member of a GrEen Commit-

tee, which consisted of staff and faculty.

“Our job was to maintain peace andkeep students away from the soldiers,” he said.

The committee formed after the12-day period.

Corbett has also received variousteaching awards during the his careerincluding a Distinguished TeachingAward from Ohio State in 1986, TheOhio Council Of Teachers of EnglishLanguage Arts Distinguished Professional Service Award, and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Council ofTeachers of English.

Corbett is modest about theawards, however.

“I wonder why I deserved them(the awards) and others who deservethem have not been recognized.”

Among Corbett’s other accomplishments are books and essays thathave been published by some of hisgraduate students.

Corbett’s office is full of shelvesstacked with books. One series he hasbeen receiving from the Book of theMonth Club is volumes ofcommentaries done on the booksof the Bible.

“You can tell tvhich ones are oldand which ones are new by the colorof the binding,” he said. “The onesthat have not been faded by the sunare more recent.”

One of Corbett’s most prized booksin his library is “The New Testamentin Greek and Latin,” he said. He received the book in high school, andbecause he uses the book so much, itis now on its third cover.

Notes fill the margins of the bookfrom studying. He said he lovesstudying Greek and goes hack andfrth betwcen the two languages be-

cause he knows more Latin thanGreek. It is also a good way to keep upon his Greek because if he gets stuckhe knows what the passage is supposed to say.

Corbett has seven children, including a set of twins, and six grandchildren with another on the way inSeptember, he said. One of the twins,who lived in California, died in 1986.

Corbett’s wife, Sylvia, also died in1986.

“Her given name is Sylvia but Icalled her Charlie,” he said. “Don’task me why. It is something I’ve always done.”

They met when she was the head ofa secretarial pooi at NBC in Chicagowhen it was still a radio station in theprocess of becoming a television network, he said. They married whileCorbett was serving as a radar technician in the Marine Air Corps.

Every three years there is a familyreunion for all members of the Corbett clan.

“My father came from a family ofseven and those seven produced 26which I am part of;” Corbett said.“The count is now up to 375.”

The last three reunions have beenstaged by the children. In 1991 thethree-day bash will be held in Chicago, he said.

‘I’he 1988 reunion in Minneapoliswas featured on the “Home Show”with host Rob Weller.

“We all have tapes of it,” he said.After Corbett retires he will have

plenty to keep him busy. He has threebooks on which he is working thatwill be published later this year. Hesaid he also will be traveling more andvisiting his children.

bFhbSJBUNIVERSITY

Ni ‘1S

News Services1125 Kinnear RoadColumbus, OH 43212-1153Phone 614-292-2711

for releaseon receipt 6-190

(LO)

TRUSTEES APPOINT GLOWER AND SHKURTI AS ACTING VICE PRESIDENTS

COLUNBUS -— The Ohio State University Board of Trustees

Friday (6/1) appointed two acting vice presidents and an acting

vice provost, and acted on a number of other personnel

appointments and reappointments.

Donald D. Glower, 63, dean of the College of Engineering,was named acting vice president for university communicationsand development, effective July 1. He will replace Thomas L.Tobin, who had announced last fall that he will leave the vicepresidency upon the completion of the highly successful OhioState University Campaign.

In his new position Glower, who will remain dean of theCollege of Engineering, will oversee the offices of UniversityDevelopment and of University Communications, which areresponsible for fund raising and a broad range of publicrelations and communications activities.

William J. Shkurti, 43, acting assistant vice president foruniversity budget planning, was named acting vice president forfinance, effective Aug. 1. He will replace Weldon E. Ihrig,who will become vice chancellor for finance and administrationof the Oregon State System of Higher Education on Aug. 1.

The Office of Finance is responsible for the Treasurer’sOffice, Controller’s Office. University Budget Planning, theOffice of Campus Planning and Space Utilization, and the Officeof Management Studies.

GAUTHIER TO ASSUME ADDITIONAL DUTIES AS ACTING VICE PROVOST

Associate Provost Howard I. Gauthier was appointed actingvice provost for international affairs, beginning July 1. Healso is a professor of geography.

Gauthier will take over duties from Charles F. Hermann, whowas reappointed director of the Mershon Center through June1994. Hermann had been acting vice provost since the 1988departure of Francille Firebaugh, dean of the College of HumanEcology at Cornell University.

—more—

APPOINTMENTS -- 2

GRIBBLE TO HEAD SLAVIC DEPARTMENT

The board named Charles E. Gribhle as chairperson of theDepartment of Slavic and East European Languages andLiteratures, for a four—year term beginning Oct. 1.

Gribble, a faculty member since 1975, specializes inhistorical Slavic linguistics, medieval Slavic texts, Russian,and the South Slavic languages. Gribble is president ofSlavica Publishers Inc., North Americas largest publisher ofscholarly books and textbooks on Slavic languages, linguistics,and literatures.

Before joining Ohio State, Gribble was an assistantprofessor of Slavic languages and director of the SlavicWorkshop Summer Program at Indiana University, where he taughtfrom 1968 to 1975. He taught Russian at Brandeis Universityfrom 1961 to 1968.

He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Slavic languagesfrom the University of Michigan in 1957, his Master of Artsdegree in Slavic languages and literatures in 1958 and hisdoctorate in Slavic linguistics in 1967, both from HarvardUniversity.

Gribble succeeds Frank Silbajoris as chairperson.Silbajoris, who stepped down in 1989, is a professor in thedepartment. David F. Robinson, an associate professor, is theacting chairperson.

DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS REAPPOINTED

Trustees reappointed several other chairpersons ofdepartments in health related fields. They are:

• Dennis R. Feller, Division of Pharmacology, through June1993.

• Richard H. Reuning, Division of Pharmacy Practice,through June 1993.

• James S. King, Department of Anatomy, through June 1994.• John S. McDonald, Department of Anesthesiology, through

June 1994.• li. Ronald Glaser. Department of Medical Microbiology and

Immunology, through June 1994.• Grant Morrow III, Department of Pediatrics, through June

1994.• Gerald P. Brierley, Department of Physiological

Chemistry, through June 1994.• Carol L. Kennedy, Department of Life Span Process,

through September 1994.

Three acting chairpersons were reappointed:• Salvador Garcia, Department of Spanish and Portuguese,

through September 1990.—more—

APPOINTMENTS -- 3

• Charles G. Williams, Department of French and Italian,through September 1991.

• Ralph E. J. Boerner, Department of Plant Biology, throughSeptember 1991.

In other actions, trustees:• Granted promotions, tenure or both to 201 faculty members.

• Gave the title of vice president emeritus to Weldon E.Ihrig of the Office of Finance, effective Sept. 1, 1990, and toThomas L. Tobin of the Office of University Communications andDevelopment, effective April 1, 1991.

• Named Andrew 3. Broekema of the College of the Arts asdean emeritus, effective July 1, 1990.

• Gave the title of professor emeritus, effective July 1,to Edward P. J. Corbett of the Department of English, CharlesA. Csuri, of the Department of Art Education, John C. Messengerof the Department of Anthropology, and Andrew G. Oldenguist ofthe Department of Philosophy.

• Bestowed the title of associate professor emeritus,effective July 1, upon McHenry R. Boatwright of the School ofMusic; William E. MeCray, of the Department of Black Studies,Carole R. Rogel of the Department of History, and Dana F.Vibberts of the Department of Photography and Cinema.

44

(Trus/131)

June 21, 1990/onCa;npusl7

Five long-time faculty

members retire

Edward P. J. CorbettProfessor emeritus ut EnIisIl

“If you identify yourself as an English

professor, people m mediately becomeself—conscious about the ssav they talk,says Edward P. J. Corhett. “I don’t likemaking others uncomfortable — that’ssvlty I never correct anyone in mitt versa—loll:’

Corbett , a gentle soul sv I Ii a gatne—show host grin, is certaittly in a positionto correct gratntnar atrocities. He is oneof the fottnding instructors of English 572—— Traditional Grammar and Usage — andthe veteran among five or so who nowteach the popular course.

‘‘Of everytlting I ye taught, time grant—nar class has been tite itiost gratilyttig.The students are genuinely interested attdvery eager to learti.”

He retired this spring after nearly 25years as professor of English. Corhett

cante to Columbus in 1966 frotnCreightott University, where lie hadtaugltt stnce earttitig his Pit. D. itt 1948front Lciyola University of Chicago. Hebegan his tenure ltere us director ofheslitttatt Ettglislt aitd vice cltairtttan oftite departtitent, positiotts he field forour years.

In addition to graitttnar and usage, hisareas of expertise also iticlude l8tlt-eeti-tury literature (“Dr. Johnson is ttiy pussictn,” he says) and classical rhetoric. Heis best knowtt as a ritetorician — Ins textC/u.rsjiti/ Rhetoric for i/ic’ Modern Studeit,is itself a classic, attd his scltolarship in thefield has helped shape tlte way Eitglishcomposition is taught in the UnitedStates today. He also has been the guiding force bettind Ohio State’s rhetoricand composition program, which isamottg the best in higher education,

Rhetoric, Corbelt says, is the art ofpersuasive communication, It originatedwith the ancient Greeks, who applied itsprinciples to oratory rather than to writing.

“It’s unfortunate that rhetoric hasacquired the reputation of being hollowbombast, It’s a noble discipline whetsemployed hoisorably. But [heti peoplehave always been suspicious of those whotise words facilely antI cleverly — a skilledrhetorician nngltt be able to talk you intoattytltitig.”

GRAMMARAND USAGE:ii; Beth L,ndsmith

Its 7.57 on a humid Tliurscliyritrttisg. and Edward P. J. Ctirftt’tt’slass is filled to capacity. Corbett,

sfrtirttng professorial tweed and morehair than a 70-year-old man should ftcallowed, enters the toortt. anti students clear their desks for a quiz. tnrite hack, a student in a Hard [tricktale T-shirt asks the woman text toIctn a last—minute question aboutinlay’s material. She nods vigorously,

setting her giant hoop earrings inmotion as sire flips frantically throughher notes.

“1 cant believe ftc gives us a testevery single day,” she mutters, notquite under her breath.

In spite of the daily quizzes, thisclass is among the most popularoffered by Corbett’s department It’snot a just-take-it-for-an-easy-A sort ofclass, nor is it a requirement studetrtsare herded into against their will. Thecourse is extremely low-tech, and itpritliably won’t Itelp anyone earn lotsoi money right out of school. Yet 311students are turned away from thecourse each quarter, even Ihougit itsoffered four times a year to accotnnmodate the demand.

Today’s quiz topic? Restrictive andnon-restrictive clauses. The class?English 572—Traditional Grammaranti Usage.

“We never dreamed we’d have thiskind of respcrnse lit a gramntarci mirse,” Crrrhett says We’ve beenpat king them in since we instrluti-dthe class about to years ago.”

Corbett, a gentle soul willr a game-show-host grin, is one of the iouirdimmginstructors ol English 572 and theveteran among those wftct teach thecourse. He is retiring this quarter afteralmost 40 years of teaching—25 atOhio State. He came lit time tJimiversity

ri I Still as ctirecttrr of lreslitrratrEnglish arid vice ctiairman of thedepartment. Since then, he has beemt aguidiitg lorce behind Ohio State’srhetoric and composition program,which is among the best in highereducation, attd in 1986 he was Ironored with the University’s 0-stint-guisired Scholar Award.

In addition to grammar and usage,his areas of expertise incltitit’ I SIlt-

it sry lilerat tire anti classical rlrettvru —the art of persuasive cttmrtiutucatkin He is perhaps belter known us arhetorician—his text Clussicol Rhetoricfur the Modem Student is itself aclassic, and his schiolarstrip in tire fieldhas helped shape the way Englishimposition is taught in the United,ttn’s tticlay

V. bile rhetoric is ins prmmriarv clainrmu lame. Corbelt says granimar amidts.ige us, for hun, Ifie most rewartlingti each i’ve taught niany different

asses, hut 572 is tire mtist gratifyitigThe students are genuinely siterestetE

mink it’s a mvtft that Americans areiS lier abtuuit fir-it language For

exanrple, look at citlusittist WitliaittSatire, who writes about bitt Ii pitliticsantI language. He s.rys lie rarely hearsaimvttsimg about Itis polilii’al t’rrlomtis,list tie gets swatriftecl fy ttttrit aboutgrattttnar and usage.

“1 think tue switch titward cruiser—vativlsnt that took ttace cluritrg tire‘80s may franc cotttributed to ttteinterest in the gratTimtiar anti usageclass, ‘l’lris turtt itt the lertiper of tirerat bit fias creaf ed sortie itervitustiessabout doitig the correct thitrg atidbeing accepted in the rigirt circles,Sludetits today want a clearly outlinedstandard of latiguage, atid once theylearn it, lucy wartt to preserve it.”

Cttrbelt tfrasvs a parallel to I 8tfr-century Englattd, wheit explosivegrow-itt in the micltlle class createditem concern aitout prttper language.“After the start of the Inutustriatrevttfution, people began rising insociety and becattie very muchccmncerned abtiut tlreir larrguage.Suddenly tue public was clanmoring ttmrdirection, ttut there were rift officialrules goverititmg Etmgltslt. Grarttrttar hadalways been caichm-as-catclt-cait.tteople were riesperatefy seekitugstructure and latched Ott lit whateverrules they coulti fitid.”

Itt tire last decade, Ire says, theeconomic prosperity ot some babyhitomers nnay have citritrihuted to asirrulur phetioirterrori. “Lciok at tireyuppies—lhere’s a rvitole tiese class offteolrle whit are ulrwarcliy ititihile.Since languttge is trite iii Ifie thingsttmat certifies ymnur stat us, it stakessense for Peoltle who ss’atmt lit ntttve tiltto he ctiiicerned ahrrut how theyspeak arid write.”

Bul correct gratmmntar and usage arenote than jusI a verbal Ititwer lie. TIneability to wield language effectively isboth a graceful art and a cttntpettingfoul. It’s trot a quest ittmr iii form versussubstatrce lit tutu writ imrg until stteitk—itrg. ttrrtnt has a furtifttutid effect ott tIresubstance.

Gramnmar atid usage are tsvitelements that give form to language,

Correct grammarand usage are motethan just a verbal

power tie.

Wfren students 5itt up for tiregrattmtnsr antI usage class, they ofteimdon’t discrirrrinate belweett tIre twit.Orantniar is 11w liar tern of a language,tIre syslerrr used to urinstruct sertfences. Its rules are reialively inflexible and haven’t cimanged fur hundredsitt years.

“Usage, on tire tither mariO. is likethe etiquelte of language_it’s storesmulm1eulivtr attnl tIn-aIx suit Ii svliettrer a

Edward P J Uorhe!t

wtird is prtuper for a given cotitext.Saying ‘I aitt’t got any’ is perfectlygrairurrtutical; tIre prohultttt is uric itt

usage. Most Iteople ctbject to the wttrdalit 1.”

Accttrclitug tn Corhnett, birth areasfall under tire heading of style, whichis lIre way a message is retutiered. himpltrasitrg a writer selects baserl oir tirelanguage’s grammar and vocabulary.Style—along with ltrvetntiorr, arratigetriertt, nretrtory, and delivery—is otre oftire five canrttts itt classical rhtef uric.Ci trrec’t graittttiar miii usage ireinmtlirtrtatit in rlretrtric, wftetlier it’spersuasive writimmg itt a rireirto, atirttposal, or a scholarly taper. Tireprimary concern is tire audience’sreaction, anncl it’s Itard to be cutmivinmuittg ss’ltile ycru’re clatigling particiltles.

Few people tiulside academic kttowirtuchr about rireltiruc as a disci1tlitte,cmxi thituglt it’s tIre fonnmntiatiintt ittrstrategies usert itt rrllier hielcis—ittarketiitg atrrf arlvertisittg, fur cx—atrrlile. lit line intrO uI tire public, theliersuasive priucilules ru rhetoric areassociaterl svitls areas like ctrtrrtntunicaI irrits mmd surcial psyrlitulrtgy while t ftc

uvirrd thtr’tuurju ilseli Isis cmrmrrc’ itt stetrmm

“irtillow bonnibast.”Rftet uric origitiat ed sOt hi time

ammrc’iertt Greeks as atr itratoricaf art,anrd rrver tire cettturies tire lielul ftasexisted itt a state rrt rhumisi-disrettute.tts negative crrttnrrtatiori dates back toSitakeslteare atid evett Srrcrates.

Socrates believed rftelorical abilitywas nterely att acquireri skill used tocorrviuce an audience oh the stteaker’snrpittioir rather than trutit. VitettShakespeare wrote of “soutirt attn fury,sigitifyitig tot hung” itt Mrrcbelhr, Ire wasrelerrhntg fri a sctirrrrl cit itettaissaticerhetoricians. ‘Ehroughuurut tire ages.thief uric has cuitititrued to gairn ruotoriely as a sttontnly art firacticeci byshoddy perrple for sunodehy purposes,”says Crrrbett, “1 titituk there is oitenr atmitrhrerent rust rrnsf nut freirlile who areskilled siteakers. ‘If rev itmighrt Ite ableInn talk ytiu mItt armyllrirrg —

Ritetrtricul u’xpt’rtixe imis’olves mtructmmtmrmre I hiatt slick lalk lire Irest cotntmumnicalors rntust afsrt fmave a firer comenuammch of lairguage arid its commvcmitiotts.Emnnttloyittg cern aiti rftettrrical cievicesallitsvs otme tnt write mitre clearly antdto put a stun of arluleni ntnearnunng mitt tirewtrrrls Frrr exattuirle, I’tuntn sntrashuect

Nobe p,or ilhprrte?

mu 511mm SrATE QcLST. St’MMER n writ

the car” supplies the same informa‘ion as it was Tom who smashed the

at,” hut the two statements have.vltt!v different meanings. The latter;trr’vides telting emphasis (that it was

‘un and not Dick or Harry) with just aIra added words.

It’s unfortunate that shorter isregarded as unequivocally better.regardless of the audience, saysL,,rhett. You lose many vatuable‘iris in language by limiting yourself

my one strategy. Sentence length isne example, the passive voice is

,u,,ther Passive constructions are—ifective if used properly, but many

“Hopefully now separates the washed

from the unwashed—iPs become the

new ain’t.”

teachers flatly forbid students to usehem.” Using only short, active sett

tences results in flat prose with theunvaried cadence of a grocery fist.

Many of the writing guidelines we,,dhere to aren’t necessarily groundedin reason—they may be based onoutdated edicts from high-schoolEnglish teachers or on rules that havemutated from their original form.There’s no accounting for some of

the notions we have about language.Its very often emotional. People watttto stick with what they’ve learnedeven if it’s not correct or it’s outlivedits usefulness.”

.tmong his favorife examples arethe rules against both split infinitivesand prepositions at the end of sentences. Those rules, he says, werelifted from Latin in the 18th century byscholars who were creating an Englishgrammar from scratch.

But in Latin, the infinitive Is oneword, so you can’t split it. You alsocan’t separate the Latin prepositlortfrom the word It governs. English,because it’s not inflected, allows moreflexibility than Latin.” By indiscrimi”tiately avoiding both constructions,writers may end up with awkwardsvittactical gymnastics. “As WinstonI hurchill once said to an editor whoutiquestioningly obeyed the prepositurn rule, ‘This is a piece of nonsenseup with which I will not pot.’”

\tany writers, with the no-splilunriuutlse edict vaguely itt mincf, strainii keel) adverbs out cif compounncl

serics Sentences with the ring ofndtntnn,ttive speech result: “we alreadytat r’ oted” or We never have seen

tier.’ or example. And many believes’ruurtnitng a sentence aith arid or but is

‘.,,i,irbnclcfen, a notion that isnt true.i irding to Crirhent. “That myth is

auntlner once of those things.ri’ pie cant give a reason they object:cV Ust av it’s something they heard,iiicts here aIring tie tine.”

a’ rides oi grammar are fairlytic, little has changed itt huincirecls

v. .,rs I ‘sire, on the tither tcaiiil. is

much more subjective ancf malleable,making it better lodder for controversy. Some people react very negalively to fairly innocuous usages thatdon’t really lender commulucal iota, areaction Corbett cotnsnders nitpicknng.

“Fur instance, people become Veryupset about hopefully. That word nowseparates tIne washed from the anwasfiect—It’s become the new ain’t. Iknow that saying, ‘Hopefully, they willcut the grass today’ defies logic—thatsentence really says they will now thefawn in a hopelul stale of mind. lIntthere’s no real breakdown In coannnunicatlon. We know what’s being said.”

He admifs to usage quirks of fusown. “Something that really bothersme Is enthuse, as in ‘I was enthusedabout that.’ It’s a back formation ofenthusiasm, and many perfectlylegitimafe English words were foritwdthat way. Nevertheless, every time Ihear it, it sends chills down tny spine.

“1 know it’s irrational, but studentsneed to know that there are peopleout tftere with similar attitudes anduntexplainable language biases. Manyof these people may have Ifie power10 give graduates a job or turn themdown, so I think if’s important to beinformed and know what usages maygive offense. Studenfs have to realizethat lhey will be judged for the rest oftheir fives by how they expressthemselves.”

Corbetl believes there are manylanguage traditions that should bepreserved because they make Englishmore precise and improve the qualityof our communication. “Sontettmes wehave ho dig in our heels and say, ‘l’tngoing to resist thus; Ibis purl of thelanguage Is worlh saving.’”

For example, Corbett laments Iheblurring of the words uninterested,which means “bored,” anaf dcsinterested, whlcht means Uueutral and therefore not deriving personal advanf age.”When the distinctiott is completelygone, we will have lost a precise wordthat has no exact equivalent.

He’s also adamant about theantecedenlfess pronoun. One of themost common olfenses by students,he says, Is using the pronoun this atthe begltaning of a sentence whenthere’s mao clear referent, “You can’tuse this to refer to a general idea; If’sbest to have a specific word as an antecechent. The reader should never beput In fhe position of tnaviitg to guesstfae meaning”

Corbett is also a trailifionalisf whenit comes to commas. [he recommetidsalways placing a comnna after anintroductory word, phrase, or clause,even if there’s no chance for misreading. “Then you clcitt’t have to cteftale iteach time, antI. tniareover, ycau cannever go wrong. And in a threeiternseries, it’s tiest to use a coauflnaf)etweeln the second ehecacent anncl theconjunction. ‘A, B. antI C’ call ttean

something differentt front ‘A, B and C.’There is greater danger in leavittg anecessary comma 051 than in pulttgart unttecrssary one itt.”

Most petnple welcome clear gtiicfelines. he says. Several tines a week,Cnrlcet I reecho’s calls hrntnn the coin—

intiincitv—latvr’rs hill lttasiitl’sstc’itple.ttictstiy—alticnl graitttitrar. us,lge. aIr

punctuathm. (‘allt’rs get nervous 1

waffle, ill explaiti that some expertsthink one thing while others thinkscitmiething else. They Want inc 10conme right oaf and tell tttem what hodo, xci I list give them the ntost conservative positioml, which is the oneleast likety to otfend anybody.”

Despite fus butt decades of hallllatgitarharisamis in fIne classrocmi, despitehis nahiotnal reputation as a leader inhis discipline, Cairbeit “never, ever”gives unsolicited gralatmar advicelesceltt, he says. to ftis chitclren).

“Everyone gets nervous arciuttdEngI xli teachers, fl iclrtltily myself asiii English hirdthessiir, peicitle itatitiedi—tItle become sl’tl—c’ollscil,us macf thittkthey have to watch wlnat Itic’y say. It’s

true that we are concerned withhaving subjects and verbs agree, butItnaf’s because tflose tftings affect Ihesulistantce of wInd yccu’re saying.

“Cltnitrary to potautar belief, it Issulislatice that is our priltisry colt’

cent. There’s a lot elate Iii us t hancaimnllnia collilt lang.” •Bet/c Lindd.crmtct/t is rmaurtugcrcg editor ofQuesl urcd umm ussltrlute editor in timeOffice of I bcccrernt0’ C’nrrrlnmcurticutcuns

Test Your Traditional Grammar andUsage SavvyAccordincg to Wilson Follett’s Modern Arncericunc tiscige, eadfl of lIce followingsent ences cictitains onte to three errors thaI would olfeamil mttany languagepurists. Cccrbelt coilsiders FolletI’s hook to he amnollg tIle niost cltnlscrvativesfyle Iniafluals available.

1. Everyhcocly Ill this dllulllry should nave sonnetclace tic live irregarclless ohtheir econcoamnic stalus.

2. The gestat iii) period of eleptmnnts is Inudfl longer lfcaai t fiat in! fiunnaacs.

3. Brian inferred Ihaf he didn’t like Claire’s new haircut even thcaugfi hedidn’t ccnie right out and say’ sic.

4. Dali realizeil Inc hiatt less 1011115 tItan Ice nrrifeil fur act A III cliemciistry,mad ne literally blew us tot).

5. I’d like a.copy for Melinda and I, aaacf we’ll pass it on to wllorver heeds Itnext.

6. Malt was accepted by live excellemnt uaniversities, anal nliw he’s lacedwIlt lIne dileanlllla cul selecting just ale.

7. The campus-tour grccup was comprised oh eighlf overly exciled parentsand tour eanbarassed-tooking hmigh.scfnool seniors.

I. Several of may’ friends also gaianecl weight over tIle huoliclays, so I Iladpeople to clllallaliserate wit hi.

9. Nathan felt badly wllen Carcilyan walked out OIl hunt, but at least lie’slearned Inc cann’t fmavc ills cake smith eat It, tcao.

10. To paraplnrase Oscar Wilde, the besl way to deal with temptation Is togive into It inumechiately.

Answers1. TIle wcnrdn sortacp/oce and ia-regardless are “barbarlslns,” according to

Folletl, and sfioold be replaced by somewhere and regardk’ss. Ece’laodyIs singular and requires a singular possessive pronoun. Their, which isplural, is incorrect.

2. Human is arm adjective, as in “Iaoman faair,” It you’re referriang to aperson, the preferred conservative usage Is human being.

3. In this sentence, implied should replace inferred, Imply meaans “suggestwllhciul saying” whIle infer means “draw meaning from,”

4. Less refers to quantity, fewer to nunmber, so It should read “fewerpoints.” If what Is being quantified Is plural, chances are It needs fewer,For example, diet yogurt has fewer calories and less sugar than regularyogurt. Literally would be appropriate only It Dan’s head actuallyexploded upon hearing the news,

5. 1 slmould be replaced by the objective pronoun file. as bolh It andMelinda are objects of Ihe preposition for. Whoever is correctbecause it in the subject oh needs, whtlch supernedes Ihe fact that Iheentire phrase Is ttae objecl of the preposition to,

6. Dilertcrtaci, wtsich means “two horns,” should be used onnly whnen relerring los pair of equally uaaallraclive cbnolces, not to a anere diflicuitsiluatiorl,

Z Composed should be used Instead of cotnpnsed. Conmprise has a sense oh“include” or “etmcoanpass” atmd is not synonomous with cormipose. “Thebook coiaiprlses elgbmt new sfcorl stories” or “Elgfml stories are commaprised In tfse new book” are examptes of correct usage. AccordIng toFollett, overly should be shortened to over and used as a prebix wltfm theword It modifies.

S. Commiserate wit/I Is redundammt. With is lnheremtt In commiserate, whichhas notIon of “co-misery.”

9. Umalens Nathaam’s fingertips weren’l scanning properly, he felt bad, nofbadly. Linking verbs, Includimmg felt, anust be used witln adjectIves. Thecake-eallng adage has been reversed over the years—Ihe ciriginal hirmewas “You Can’t cal your cake and icave il, 100,” which in ncucfm harder totIn Ihan to have II aand then eat ii,

10. Into slaould be replaced by iii to. t’Iere, in is an integral part cml tIme verbphrase “give laa,” Itato and in to are ndti Inferchangeable: the lirst isapreposition, the second an adverb andh a preposition.

c )hlIii S’CATE Qt’VST. SttMMdR cent ‘7

COLUr’TBUS DISPATCH

CORBETTEdward P. J. Corbett, age 78, Wednesday,June 24, 1998 at his residence. Born inJamestown, ND., October 29, 1919. Graduate of Marquette High School. Milwaukee,Wis. USMC Veteran of WW II. Received hisM.A. from University of Chicago and hisPh.D. from Loyola University of Chicago.Taught at Creighton University from 1948 to1966. Professor of English at The Ohio StateUniversity from 1966 to 1990. CCCC Past-President, 1971. He was the author of numerous books, including tlassical Rhetoricfor the Modern Student,’ “The Little EnglishHandbook,” and “The Little Rhetoric. Member of St. Francis otAssisi Church. Preceded in death by wife Sylvia, brother John anddaughter Catherine. Survived by daughters,Mary Elizabeth Corbett and Maureen Zayas;sons, James, John, Peter and Thomas; sisters, Margaret Croasdaile and AdrienneSchmitz; 8 grandchildren; many nieces andnephews. A Memorial Mass will be heldJuly 6, 1998 at 10a.m. at St. Francis ofAssisiChurch, 386 Buttles Ave., Columbus, Oh. Areception will follow the Mass at the O.S.U.Faculty Club. In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be made to Rhetoric & CompositionFund, do English Department, The OhioState University. Arrangements by COOK &SON-PALLAY FUNERAL HOME.

October 2, 1998 meeting, Board of TrusteesThe Ohio State University

Resolution in Memoriam

Edward P. J. Corbett

The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University expresses its sorrow upon the death on June24, 1998, of Edward P. J. Corbett, Professor Emeritus in the Department of English.

Professor Corbett was born on October 19, 1919, in Jamestown, North Dakota. From 1938-1942,he attended Venard College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. He then entered the United StatesMarine Corps and from 1943-46 served in the Pacific as a Radar Technician in the Marine AirCorps. After the war, he took his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1948 and began histeaching career at Creighton University. He taught at Creighton from 1948 until 1966, with athree-year hiatus to study for the Ph.D., which he received from Loyola University in 1956. In1966, he came to the Department of English at The Ohio State University, where he served asDirector of Freshman English and Vice-Chair until 1970. He became Professor Emeritus uponhis retirement in 1990.

Professor Corbett was an outstanding scholar in the broad field of rhetoric and composition andespecially distinguished in his particular specialty of classical rhetoric. His book, ClassicalRhetoric for the Modern Student (1965, 2nd edition 1981) was both widely praised by his peersand widely adopted by teachers of first-year writing. His The Little English Handbook and TheLittle Rhetoric Handbook also went through multiple editions and spread his influence across thecountry. From 1974 to 1979, he served as editor of College Composition and Communication,the official journal of the Conference on College Composition and Communication.

In 1984, Professor Corbett’s research contributions were rewarded locally by his receiving theUniversity Distinguished Research Award. That same year, three of his former OSU students,Andrea Lunsford, Lisa Ede, and Robert J. Connors, edited a festschrift in his honor called Essayson Classical Rhetoric and Modern Discourse. In 1996, Professor Corbett’s research, teaching,and service were honored when he received the Exemplar Award from the Conference onCollege Composition and Communication.

All who knew Professor Corbeff regarded him as an exemplar of many virtues: diligence, integrity,unselfishness, and generosity. He maintained a sense of wonder about the world, about theeducational enterprise, and about OSU that made him beloved by his colleagues and students. Itis fair to say that he was an exemplar of the best values of The Ohio State University.

On behalf of the University community, the Board of Trustees expresses to the family ofProfessor Edward P. J. Corbett its deepest sympathy and sense of understanding of their loss. Itwas directed that this resolution be inscribed upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees and thata copy be tendered to his family as an expression of the Board’s heartfelt sympathy.

The Ohio State UniversityOctober 2, 1998

Board of Trustees

RESOLUTIONS IN MEMORIAM

Synopsis: Approval of four Resolutions in Memoriam.

RESOLVED, That the Board adopt the following Resolutions in Memoriam and that the Presidentbe requested to convey copies to the family of the deceased.

William Edward Ashleman

The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University expresses its sorrow upon the death on July 16,1998, of Dr. William Edward Ashleman, Assistant Professor Emeritus in the College of Dentistry.

Dr. Ashleman, a native of Grandview Heights, Ohio, graduated from the College of Dentistry in1943, as a member of the U.S. Army’s A.S.T.P. program. Commissioned on graduation as aCaptain in the Dental Corps, he volunteered for combat duty and was assigned to the 708thAmphibious Tank Battalion in the Pacific Theatre as the Battalion Dental Surgeon. Dr. Ashlemanwas wounded in the Okinawa Campaign and was awarded the Purple Heart. He returned to civilianlife in 1947 and joined the faculty of the College of Dentistry as an Instructor in 1948.

His service to the University was interrupted from 1951 to 1959, as he initiated and developed aprivate practice in periodontology in Columbus. He returned to the College as a part-time instructorand in 1966 was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor. Upon his retirement in 1981, he wasawarded Emeritus status.

William Ashleman was active in his profession and was a member of the American DentalAssociation, the Ohio Dental Association and the Columbus Dental Society, serving as president ofthe latter. He also served as president of the Ohio Academy of Penodontists. He was a founder andpresident of the Columbus Dental Veterans Group and was a life member of Delta Sigma Delta,professional dental fraternity.

He will be remembered by his peers and former students for his dedication to his profession, hiscommitment as teacher and mentor, his loyalty to the College and the University, and hiscongeniality and thoughtfulness in his relationships with friends and colleagues.

On behalf of the University community, the Board of Trustees expresses to the family of Dr. WilliamEdward Ashleman its deepest sympathy and sense of understanding of their loss. It is directed thatthis resolution be inscribed upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees and that a copy be tenderedto his family as an expression of the Boards heartfelt sympathy.

Edward P. J. Corbeft

The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University expresses its sorrow upon the death on June24, 1998, of Edward P. J. Corbett, Professor Emeritus in the Department of English.

Professor Corbett was born on October 19, 1919, in Jamestown, North Dakota. From 1938-1 942,he attended Venard College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. He then entered the United StatesMarine Corps and from 194346 served in the Pacific as a Radar Technician in the Marine Air Corps.After the war, he took his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1948 and began his teaching careerat Creighton University. He taught at Creighton from 1948 until 1966, with a three-year hiatus tostudy for the Ph.D., which he received from Loyola University in 1956. In 1966, he came to theDepartment of English at Ohio State University, where he served as Director of Freshman Englishand Vice-Chair until 1970. He became Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in 1990.

The Ohio State UniversityOctober 2, 1998

Board of Trustees

RESOLUTIONS IN MEMO RIAM (contd)

LEdward P. J. Corbett (contd)

Professor Corbett was an outstanding scholar in the broad field of rhetoric and composition and

especially distinguished in his particular specialty of classical rhetoric. His book, Classical Rhetoric

for the Modern Student (1965, 2nd edition 1981) was both widely praised by his peers and widely

adopted by teachers of first-year writing. His The Utile English Handbook and The Little Rhetoric and

Handbook also went through multiple editions and spread his influence across the country. From

1974 to 1979, he served as editor of College Composition and Communication, the official journal

of the Conference on College Composition and Communication

In 1984, Professor Corbett’s research contributions were rewarded locally by his receiving the

University Distinguished Research Award. That same year, three of his former OSU students,

Andrea Lunsford, Lisa Ede, and Robert]. Connors, edited a festschrift in his honor called Essays

on Classical Rhetoric and Modem Discourse. In 1996, Professor Corbett’s research, teaching, and

service were honored when he received the Exemplar Award from the Conference on College

Composition and Communication.

All who knew Professor CorbeU regarded him as an exemplar of many virtues: diligence, integrity,

unselfishness, and generosity. He maintained a sense of wonder about the world, about the

educational enterprise, and about OSU that made him beloved by his colleagues and students. It

is fair to say that he was an exemplar of the best values of The Ohio State University.

On behalf of the University community, the Board of Trustees expresses to the family of Professor

Edward P. J. Corbett its deepest sympathy and sense of understanding of their loss. lt is directed

that this resolution be inscribed upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees and that a copy be

tendered to his family as an expression of the Board’s heartfelt sympathy.

Christen Tonnes Jonassen

The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University expresses its sorrow upon the death on June

8, 1998, of Christen Tonnes Jonassen, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology.

Born on September 5, 1912, in Norway, Christen Jonassen earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in

English from Brooklyn College in 1937, and taught English and social studies for two years at

Pawling School in Pawling, New York. He earned as master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology

from New York University in 1941 and 1947, respectively. Professor Jonassen also served with the

Second Infantry Division in the Rifle Squad and participated in campaigns in France, Belgium, and

Germany.

He joined the faculty at Ohio State as an instructor in 1947, advancing through the faculty ranks to

full professor in 1960. He was a Fulbright University Professor at the Institute for Social Research

in Oslo, Norway, in 1962-1 963, and held a Social Science Research Council Fellowship there in

1970. Professor Jonassen retired from the University in 1980, having completed 34 years of

research, teaching, and service.

Professor Jonassen specialized in the study of urban sociology and community analysis,

emphasizing the relationships between culture and personality, and his research focused on

attempting to establish the influences of a group’s culture and of the ecological facets of their

environment. He was also well-known for his work on methods for measuring communities.