How the Language of 'Hamilton' Mixes Rap with Sondheim

The Broadway musical "Hamilton" was recently nominated for 16 Tony Awards - one for every category. There's no question that the show is a hit, and much of that has to do with the language, according to Ben Zimmer, executive editor of Vocabulary.com and language columnist for The Wall Street Journal. In a recent column for Slate, he reflects on the words of "Hamilton" and how playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda brilliantly combined freestyle rap with musical theater in a way that's resonating with students.