Radio: Where Are You From?

When, in one of ancient Palestine's numerous tribal wars, the Ephraimites sought to slip undetected among the Gileadites, the latter asked all comers to pronounce the word "shibboleth" (ear of corn). Those who called it "shibboleth" were Ephraimites, got killed. Last week many a shibboleth was voiced on a new Mutual network program called Where Are You From? Dr. Henry Lee Smith Jr., smart, wispy-mustached, 26-year-old Columbia University lecturer in English, cocked an expert ear when members of a WOR studio audience read improbable statements like the following:

"I'll have shrimp cocktail first, Mary; be very careful how you carry the...

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