  We demonstrate that the B->D(*) l nu form factors can be accurately predicted
given the slope parameter rho^2 of the Isgur-Wise function. Only weak
assumptions, consistent with lattice results, on the wavefunction for the light
degrees of freedom are required to establish this result. We observe that the
QCD and 1/m_Q corrections can be systematically represented by an effective
Isgur-Wise function of shifted slope. This greatly simplifies the analysis of
semileptonic B decay. We also investigate what the available semileptonic data
can tell us about lattice QCD and Heavy Quark Effective Theory. A rigorous
identity relating the form factor slope difference rho_D^2-rho_A1^2 to a
combination of form factor intercepts is found. The identity provides a means
of checking theoretically evaluated intercepts with experiment.
