Prof. Herb Foster, author of the best selling book, Ribbin’, Jivin’, and Playin’ the Dozens: The Persistent Dilemma in Our Schools, will discuss his recently completed manuscript, Yiddish and Jive in American English, at the Vineyard Haven library at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23.

The manuscript explores how Americans of Jewish and African descent have contributed more words, phrases and inflections to today’s American English usage than any other ethnic group.

“This language-borrowing process intrigued me as I observed people in increasing numbers using Yiddish or jive words without any idea of their original meaning or origins,” says Mr. Foster.

Mr. Foster is emeritus president of the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center, an elected trustee of the Edgartown Free Public Library, a trustee of the Island chapter of the NAACP, member of the Dukes County Search and Rescue Team, and he intends to become, if not already, the oldest continually registered Boy Scout in the United States.