- In the 41 sentences of her remarks, Michelle Obama used some form of the personal pronouns "I" or "me" 44 times. Her husband was, comparatively, a shrinking violet, using those pronouns only 26 times in 48 sentences. Still, 70 times in 89 sentences conveyed the message that somehow their fascinating selves were what made, or should have made, Chicago's case compelling.
A linguist objects at language log: Fact-checking George F. Will, one more time, but not for the first time:
- "Fact-checking George F. Will" (6/7/2009)
- "Obama's Imperial 'I': spreading the meme" (6/8/2009)
- "Inaugural pronouns" (6/8/2009)
- "Another pack member heard from" (6/9/2009)
- "I again" (7/13/2009)
- "'I' is a camera" (7/18/2009).
Now, to make a public fool out of yourself by writing an intellectually lazy column once is part of being a columnist. But to do it repeatedly because you haven't bothered to look at reactions to your columns, might that be a sign of narcissism?
