Link to a Ben Zimmer column.

A nice piece, but as he says, “Picky language types may yet find more to poke at,” and I have done so.

I’m looking forward to the film. I’m used to the fact now that directors, who take great pains to ensure historical accuracy in costumes, props, etc, will give not a thought to the language. The mispronunciation of ay is such an elementary error as is the muddling of thence and thither. Abe would not be pleased.

Well, on the other hand those few are the only things that stood out for me as errors in the whole movie, which is pretty impressive tribute to the pains they took with language (as described in the Zimmer piece).  There were far more times when I thought “Wow, that’s great, period-appropriate use of language!” I must say, though, I was surprised that Daniel Day-Lewis didn’t know how to pronounce “aye.” He’s Cecil Day-Lewis’s son, for heaven’s sake!

In my London years, I was offered a job working for Cecil Day-Lewis.  I turned it down because I was offered £2 a week more elsewhere, a decision I’ve always regretted.  Looking forward very much to seeing the film Lincoln, though.