{"title":"Language: history and general works Books","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"proverbs-words-of-wisdom-9781904263784","title":"Proverbs: Words of Wisdom","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf many hands make light work, how can too many cooks spoil the broth?  If you’ll find the best advice on your pillow, are proverbs even useful?  How come these nuggets of wisdom are so similar all over the world?  In this compact book (knowledge takes up no space!), modern Irish painter Alice O’Neill takes a world-wide tour of more than 1,500 useful proverbs, comparing their similarities and contradictions, and revealing  the secret patterns of human nature, common sense and human folly.  WOODEN BOOKS are small but packed with information. \"Fascinating\" FINANCIAL TIMES. \"Beautiful\" LONDON REVIEW OF BOOKS. \"Rich and Artful\" THE LANCET. \"Genuinely mind-expanding\" FORTEAN TIMES. \"Excellent\" NEW SCIENTIST. \"Stunning\" NEW YORK TIMES. Small books, big ideas.","brand":"Wooden Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47850620158295,"sku":"9781904263784","price":7.59,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781904263784.jpg?v=1710616740"},{"product_id":"the-elements-of-eloquence-how-to-turn-the-perfect-english-phrase-9781785781728","title":"The Elements of Eloquence: How To Turn the","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER \u003ci\u003eTHE ETYMOLOGICON.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'An informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully.' David Marsh, \u003ci\u003eGuardian\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMark Forsyth presents the secret of writing unforgettable phrases, uncovering the techniques that have made immortal such lines as 'To be or not to be' and 'Bond. James Bond.' \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn his inimitably entertaining and witty style, he takes apart famous quotations and shows how you too can write like Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde or John Lennon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCrammed with tricks to make the most humdrum sentiments seem poetic or wise, \u003ci\u003eThe Elements of Eloquence\u003c\/i\u003e reveals how writers through the ages have turned humble words into literary gold - and how you can do the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSparkling ... the book offers many pleasures ... I laughed out loud. -- Charles Moore * Daily Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003eAn informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully. -- David Marsh * Guardian *","brand":"Icon Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47851267031383,"sku":"9781785781728","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781785781728.jpg?v=1710631851"},{"product_id":"the-horologicon-a-days-jaunt-through-the-lost-words-of-the-english-language-9781785781711","title":"The Horologicon: A Day's Jaunt Through the Lost","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER \u003ci\u003eTHE ETYMOLOGICON\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Reading \u003ci\u003eThe Horologicon\u003c\/i\u003e in one sitting is very tempting' Roland White, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMark Forsyth presents a delightfully eccentric day in the life of unusual, beautiful and forgotten English words.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom \u003ci\u003euhtceare\u003c\/i\u003e in the hours before dawn through to dream \u003ci\u003edrumbles\u003c\/i\u003e at bedtime, \u003ci\u003eThe Horologicon\u003c\/i\u003e gives you the extraordinary lost words you never knew you needed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWake up feeling rough? 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What it once considered lighthearted banter is now \u003ci\u003everboten\u003c\/i\u003e homophobia.'\u003c\/p\u003e -- Johnson * The Economist *","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47851724702039,"sku":"9781472141576","price":11.24,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781472141576.jpg?v=1710642622"},{"product_id":"the-ultimate-cockney-geezers-guide-to-rhyming-slang-9780091927486","title":"The Ultimate Cockney Geezers Guide to Rhyming","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFormer sports journalist Geoff Tibballs has written nearly 100 books, including the \u003ci\u003eThe Batsman's Holding, the Bowler's Willey\u003c\/i\u003e for Ebury.","brand":"Ebury Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732192964951,"sku":"9780091927486","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780091927486.jpg?v=1719995910"},{"product_id":"how-to-talk-like-a-local-9780099514763","title":"How to Talk Like a Local","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom dardledumdue, which means daydreamer in East Anglia, through forkin robbins, the Yorkshire term for earwigs, to clemt, a Lancashire word that means hungry, this title investigates an astonishingly rich variety of regional expressions, and provides insight into the history of the English language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's an interesting and, at times, hilarious read. 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Along the way we find out about eyebrow flashes, whistling languages, how parents teach their children to speak, how politeness travels across languages and how the way we talk show not just how old we are but where we're from and even who we want to be.","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732389867863,"sku":"9780141015521","price":11.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780141015521.jpg?v=1719996672"},{"product_id":"mother-tongue-the-story-of-the-english-language-9780141040080","title":"Mother Tongue The Story of the English Language","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''More than 300 million people in the world speak English and the rest, it sometimes seems, try to...''\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eOnly Bill Bryson could make a book about the English language so entertaining. With his boundless enthusiasm and restless eye for the absurd, this is his astonishing tour of English. From its mongrel origins to its status as the world''s most-spoken tongue; its apparent simplicity to its deceptive complexity; its vibrant swearing to its uncertain spelling and pronunciation, Bryson covers all this as well as the many curious eccentricities that make it as maddening to learn as it is flexible to use. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBill Bryson''s classic \u003ci\u003eMother Tongue\u003c\/i\u003e is a highly readable and hilarious tale of how English came to be the world''s language.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNot only fascinating but extremely funny -- Angus Deayton\u003cbr\u003eThe sort of linguistics I like, anecdotal, full of revelations, and with not one dull paragraph -- Ruth Rendell * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003eA gold mine of language-anecdote, information, curiosity. 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Connor's wry, good-natured tone and his commitment to the serious business of play make him the perfect guide to a great pastime as it approaches its 100th birthday * Daily Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003eConnor writes with great flair . . . it is nice to dip in and out of his entertaining essays * Church Times *\u003cbr\u003eAn ideal stocking filler * Metro *\u003cbr\u003eThe brilliant new book on crosswords that delivers fun galore whether you're a doer or a duffer * Mail on Sunday *\u003cbr\u003eThere is something to entertain even the most infrequent dabbler * Financial Times *","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732497314135,"sku":"9780141977102","price":11.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780141977102.jpg?v=1719997143"},{"product_id":"horrible-words-9780141978970","title":"Horrible Words","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''Stuffed with entertaining detail ... \u003ci\u003eHorrible Words\u003c\/i\u003e is lively, provocative, witty and enlightening'' \u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003eNothing inflames the language purists like an illogical \u003ci\u003eirregardless\u003c\/i\u003e or a hideous \u003ci\u003eotherization\u003c\/i\u003e.  But is it enough simply to dismiss these words as vile and barbarous  howlers? 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Hugely enjoyable * Reader's Digest *","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732498493783,"sku":"9780141978970","price":12.69,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780141978970.jpg?v=1719997148"},{"product_id":"kingdom-of-characters-9780141985312","title":"Kingdom of Characters","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eA PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA riveting, masterfully researched account of the bold innovators who adapted the Chinese language to the modern world, transforming China into a superpower in the process\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat does it take to reinvent the world''s oldest living language?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChina today is one of the world''s most powerful nations, yet just a century ago it was a crumbling empire with literacy reserved for the elite few, left behind in the wake of Western technology. In \u003ci\u003eKingdom of Characters\u003c\/i\u003e, Jing Tsu shows that China''s most daunting challenge was a linguistic one: to make the formidable Chinese language - a 2,200-year-old writing system that was daunting to natives and foreigners alike - accessible to a globalized, digital world.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKingdom of Characters\u003c\/i\u003e follows the bold innovators who adapted the Chinese script - and the value-system it represents - to the technological advances that would shape the twentieth century and beyond, from the \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnchanting... [Tsu's] love for the enigma and beauty of Chinese shines through in this delightful mix of history and linguistics... A pleasure to read -- Michael Sheridan * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003eErudite and beautifully written -- Rana Mitter * TLS *\u003cbr\u003eIncredibly fascinating... Chinese is the oldest written language in the world, and this book is very much an aperture book. Look through its linguistic premise and a whole panorama of politics, technology and aesthetics springs into life... Remarkable -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *\u003cbr\u003eImpressive... A well-told story about those who created modern China not through the barrel of a gun or a little red book but through dictionaries, libraries and printing presses. 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Jing Tsu has crafted a tale of this achievement with flair, originality and extraordinary narrative power: seldom have I read a book about modern China so informative, revelatory and enjoyable -- Simon Winchester\u003cbr\u003eAn absolute joy to read. This stunning, meticulously researched book is the detective story of Chinese characters. Jing Tsu has seamlessly fused the craft of the linguistic historian with the artistry of the storyteller - including cliff-hangers -- David Crystal, author of THE STORIES OF ENGLISH and HOW LANGUAGE WORKS\u003cbr\u003eAn amazing story! How Chinese speech and script go to be standardized and made fit for the age of printing, data-processing and the internet is a true adventure story, told with brio and passion in this eye-opening book. It's a complicated tale, to be sure, and the solutions found verge on the miraculous. 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It's a story of desperate strife, unflagging dedication, and ultimately, triumph\u003c\/p\u003e -- Ha Jin\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKingdom of Characters\u003c\/i\u003e is a deeply engaging and revealing narrative of the Chinese language in modern times: its graphic and phonetic transformations, conceptual debates, technological innovations, and political contentions. Jin Tsu has brought together a series of key moments concerning Chinese modernity, from the first Chinese typewriter to the digital Sinosphere, from the script reform to the voice revolution. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this book is indispensable for anyone interested in the sound and script of modern China -- Professor David Wang, Harvard University\u003cbr\u003eInteresting and very readable -- Peter Gordon * Asian Review of Books *","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732505407831,"sku":"9780141985312","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780141985312.jpg?v=1719997178"},{"product_id":"index-a-history-of-the-9780141989662","title":"Index A History of the","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e*A \u003ci\u003eTIME\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew Yorker, Financial Times \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eHistory Today \u003c\/i\u003eBook of the Year*\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e''Hilarious'' Sam Leith\u003cbr\u003e''I loved this book'' Susie Dent''\u003cbr\u003e''Witty and affectionate'' Lynne Truss\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePerfect for book lovers, a delightful history of the wonders to be found in the humble book index\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMost of us give little thought to the back of the book - it''s just where you go to look things up. But here, hiding in plain sight, is an unlikely realm of ambition and obsession, sparring and politicking, pleasure and play. Here we might find \u003ci\u003eButchers, to be avoided\u003c\/i\u003e, or \u003ci\u003eCows that sh-te Fire\u003c\/i\u003e, or even catch \u003ci\u003eCalvin in his chamber\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003ewith\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003ea\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eNonne\u003c\/i\u003e. This is the secret world of the index: an unsung but extraordinary everyday tool, with an illustrious but little-known past. Here, for the first time, its story is told. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCharting its curious path from the monasteries and universities of thirteenth-century Europe t\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFascinating\u003c\/b\u003e * Financial Times *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWitty and wide-ranging...adventurous... as if academic research were as revved-up as a Formula One race\u003c\/b\u003e -- Peter Conrad * Observer *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMasterful\u003c\/b\u003e * Prospect *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHilarious\u003c\/b\u003e -- Sam Leith * UnHerd *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eExceptionally good ... I learned a huge amount from this w\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ery, clever, diverting book\u003c\/b\u003e * Scotsman *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrilliant, fascinating...a binge-worthy book\u003c\/b\u003e -- Greg Jenner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eI loved this book - the story of the index turns out to be a true adventure\u003c\/b\u003e -- Susie Dent (on Twitter)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharming ... Indexes are to books as menus are to meals: often the best bit\u003c\/b\u003e * Economist *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eIlluminating ... A seemingly niche and esoteric subject, the index becomes, in Duncan's hands, a minor miracle. \u003ci\u003eIndex, A History of the \u003c\/i\u003eis not only about books, printing, and the necessity of consistent page-numbering ... but about the nature of reading and about how we understand, categorise, and engage with the world\u003c\/b\u003e -- Kate Wiles * History Today *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhat a surprise to discover that the plain and humble index has such an intricate and rollicking history! Dennis Duncan gives us a learned grand tour from ancient times to the almost present in the design and uses - and cunning abuses - of what is still the most sophisticated search tool ever devised. Instruction, \u003ci\u003epassim\u003c\/i\u003e! Entertainment, \u003ci\u003eidem\u003c\/i\u003e!\u003c\/b\u003e -- David Bellos * author of Is That a Fish in Your Ear? *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDennis Duncan has done a great service to all bibliophiles by writing this scholarly, witty and affectionate history. By rights \"Books, love of\" ought to have a page-long entry in the index.\u003c\/b\u003e -- Lynne Truss * author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEntrancing ... Seldom is a short book so wide-ranging or so original in its subject. Every page has things I didn't know, or hardly realised I knew from a lifetime of looking things up. I want to stop people at random and tell them new facts I've found out. Master the use of the index and you have access to all knowledge. \u003c\/b\u003e -- Christopher de Hamel * author of Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePacked with easy wit and erudition ... Dennis Duncan gives us not only a history of the index, but an essay on human folly ... Some indexes, says Duncan, are miniature narratives, while others are literary performances, and he provides glorious examples of both. Indexes can also be a form of mockery or satire, and they make excellent objects of disdain ... A terrifically rewarding and timely book\u003c\/b\u003e * The Oldie *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndex, A History of the \u003c\/i\u003efocuses on the ultimate paratext - the index, an ancient information organiser and search tool that is still invaluable in the age of social media ... Its possibilities fascinated writers including Lewis Carrol, JG Ballard and Vladamir Nabokov ... Duncan's brilliant work makes us realise that the back of the book can be as important as the front\u003c\/b\u003e * The Lady *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTo me, a truly great history book is one that changes something in the way in which I see the world Dennis Duncan's \u003ci\u003eIndex, A History of the \u003c\/i\u003ecertainly achieved that. Who realised there was such a fascinating, funny and delightful history behind the humble index?\u003c\/b\u003e -- Katja Hoyer * History Today – Books of the Year *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eIndex, A History of the \u003c\/i\u003emanages to be both a work of immense erudition and perfect Sunday afternoon reading\u003c\/b\u003e -- Joseph Hone * History Today – Books of the Year *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSmart, playful....Duncan has written such a generous book, attentive to the varieties of the reading experience\u003c\/b\u003e -- Jennifer Szalai * New York Times *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGracefully learned, often witty and enlightening\u003c\/b\u003e -- Ben Yagoda * Wall Street Journal *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDennis Duncan's history - from Socrates to software - along with Paula Clarke Bain's peerless index, is witty and personable throughout, and also serves as a sneak attack on the search engine. It's safe to say that you will never take an index for granted again\u003c\/b\u003e -- Mary Norris, author of Between You \u0026amp; Me and Greek to Me\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSparkles with geeky wit and shines with an infectious enthusiasm...Always erudite, frequently funny, and often surprising - a treat for lovers of the book qua book\u003c\/b\u003e * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBackmatter has never enjoyed such a spotlight; sure to amuse bibliophiles and casual readers alike\u003c\/b\u003e * Library Journal (starred review) *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDuncan proves an amiable companion on what his subtitle aptly refers to as a 'bookish adventure'...[U]seful as an introduction to book history in general as well as indexes in particular\u003c\/b\u003e -- James Waddell * Times Literary Supplement *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn adventure, and 'bookish' in the most appealing sense.... From ancient Egypt to Silicon Valley, Duncan is an ideal tour guide: witty, engaging, knowledgeable and a fount of diverting anecdotes\u003c\/b\u003e -- Steven Moore * Washington Post *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA learned and playful study, by British academic Dennis Duncan, of a textual machinery so successful it's become almost invisible\u003c\/b\u003e -- Brian Dillon * 4Columns *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA decidedly fun history.... Dennis Duncan's enthusiasm for the subject matter shines through the many witticisms and illustrations as he shows how something so seemingly small has been so vital to western literature\u003c\/b\u003e -- Erica Ezeifedi * BookRiot *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAfter reading Dennis Duncan's delightful history of the tool, you'll never forget to check the index again ... indexes have shaped the way we communicate and engage with power. They might even have saved lives along the way\u003c\/b\u003e * TIME Magazine *Book of the Year* *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eClever, sprightly ... Duncan is a brilliantly illuminating and wide-ranging guide\u003c\/b\u003e -- Fara Dabhoiwala * New York Review of Books *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBrilliant, fascinating...a binge-worthy book\u003c\/b\u003e -- Greg Jenner\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Books Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732511011159,"sku":"9780141989662","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780141989662.jpg?v=1719997204"},{"product_id":"the-hidden-history-of-coined-words-9780190466763","title":"The Hidden History of Coined Words","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSuccessful word-coinages -- those that stay in currency for a good long time -- tend to conceal their beginnings. We take them at face value and rarely when and where they were first minted. Engaging, illuminating, and authoritative, Ralph Keyes''s The Hidden History of Coined Words explores the etymological underworld of terms and expressions and uncovers plenty of hidden gems. He also finds some fascinating patterns, such as that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by design. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, originally intended to troll or taunt. Knickers, for example, resulted from a hoax; big bang from an insult. Casual wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few resulted from happy accidents, such as typos, mistranslations, and mishearing (bigly and buttonhole), or from being taken entirely out of context (robotics). Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just scholars and writers but cartoonists, columnists, children''s book authors. Wimp originated with a book series, as did goop, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Coinages are often contested, controversy swirling around such terms as gonzo, mojo, and booty call. Keyes considers all contenders, while also leading us through the fray between new word partisans, and those who resist them strenuously. He concludes with advice about how to make your own successful coinage. The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word mavens but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone who loves the immersive power of language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvery page offers lexicographical surprises, among them the early use of vegan (in 1944) and the failed coinage Malthusianism as a replacement for contraception ... Readable and wide ranging, Keyes's book will appeal to both experts and word aficionados. * E. L. Battistella, CHOICE *\u003cbr\u003e... comprehensive and fascinating... Keyes rattles through hundreds of neologisms in entertaining fashion, from spam to moxie to pecking order to gonzo to the surprising gobbledygook.,NZ Listener\u003cbr\u003eRalph Keyes is a legend for his accurate and very entertaining books about language. Now, in The Hidden History of Coined Words, he has written the best book ever produced on the fascinating stories and processes of how new words are created. * Fred Shapiro, Editor of The New Yale Book of Quotations *\u003cbr\u003eRalph Keyes looks at the history of coined words to explore how creativity itself works in language. Few word books are both this entertaining and this accurate; even fewer also manage to say anything new. This riveting book does it all. * Jesse Sheidlower, Former Editor at Large of the Oxford English Dictionary and past president of the American Dialect Society *\u003cbr\u003eIf my reaction is typical, people will start reading and not be able to put it down. It's very witty and learned — and interesting! * Landon Y. Jones, author of The Essential Lewis and Clark *\u003cbr\u003eThe Hidden History of Coined Words is filled with intriguing information. Anyone who loves words, the history of language, or well-told stories will be glad they read this fascinating book. * Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It: Choice Words, Phrases, Sentences \u0026amp; Paragraphs for Every Situation *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1.  Zen and the Art of Word Creation 2.  Coined by Chance 3.  Casual Coinage 4.  Just Kidding  5.  Prankery  6.  Taunt Terms I: Euro 7.  Taunt Terms II: U.S. 8.  Coins in Bubbles 9.  Ink-Stained Word Coiners 10.  Kiddie Lit  11.  Naming the Future 12.  Literary Lingo 13.  Ivy-covered Words 14.  Coined with Intent 15.  Nonstarters 16.  Van Winkle Words 17.  Disputation 18.  Word Wars 19.  Coiner's Remorse 20.  You Too Can Coin a Word  Bibliography Notes Acknowledgments","brand":"Oxford University Press Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732537717079,"sku":"9780190466763","price":24.29,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780190466763.jpg?v=1719997331"},{"product_id":"highly-irregular-why-tough-through-and-dough-dont-rhymeand-other-oddities-of-the-english-language-9780197539408","title":"Highly Irregular Why Tough Through and Dough Dont","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaybe you''ve been speaking English all your life, or maybe you learned it later on. But whether you use it just well enough to get your daily business done, or you''re an expert with a red pen who never omits a comma or misplaces a modifier, you must have noticed that there are some things about this language that are just weird.Perhaps you''re reading a book and stop to puzzle over absurd spelling rules (Why are there so many ways to say ''-gh''?), or you hear someone talking and get stuck on an expression (Why do we say How dare you but not How try you?), or your kid quizzes you on homework (Why is it eleven and twelve instead of oneteen and twoteen?). Suddenly you ask yourself, Wait, why do we do it this way? You think about it, try to explain it, and keep running into walls. It doesn''t conform to logic. It doesn''t work the way you''d expect it to. There doesn''t seem to be any rule at all. There might not be a logical explanation, but there will be an explanation, and this book is here to help.In Highly Irregular, Arika Okrent answers these questions and many more. Along the way she tells the story of the many influences--from invading French armies to stubborn Flemish printers--that made our language the way it is today. Both an entertaining send-up of linguistic oddities and a deeply researched history of English, Highly Irregular is essential reading for anyone who has paused to wonder about our marvelous mess of a language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn more than 40 brief, readable chapters, Okrent brings both erudition and wit to the history of English and the mechanisms of language change and all the quirky consequences ... Every language should have a book like this one. * E. L. Battistella, CHOICE *\u003cbr\u003eOkrent's book provides an all-encompassing and detailed overview of how earlier stages of the English language and language change can explain many present-day English irregularities ... Okrent brings order to the world of irregularities in the English language. * Anke Lensch, Linguist List *\u003cbr\u003e...she explains well why the language remains such a minefield for even educated native speakers, never mind those picking it up as a second or third tongue. * Mark Broatch, NZ Listener *\u003cbr\u003eI love everything about this book. Arika Okrent is insightful, funny, and answers questions you didn't even know you had! * Mignon Fogarty, author of Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing *\u003cbr\u003eArika Okrent is the best at taking oft-repeated stories about English and pushing them a step deeper. If you buy one 'fun facts about English' book, make it this one. Lively explanations from Okrent plus charming drawings by O'Neill make for a highly engaging book perfect for answering your (or your kid's) questions about the oddities of the English language. * Gretchen McCulloch, author of Because Internet and host of Lingthusiasm *\u003cbr\u003eDon't let the joy of reading these stories fool you. Arika Okrent brings real intellectual heft to researching them. As you find yourself eagerly passing them on, you'll realize how much serious stuff about language you've learned too. * Lane Greene, author of Talk on the Wild Side and You Are What You Speak *\u003cbr\u003eArika Okrent has done the magic trick of compiling the kinds of questions the general public actually asks about language, instead of the kinds of questions we linguists would LIKE the public to ask. Everybody—including many linguists!—will feast on every page. * John McWhorter, Professor of Linguistics at Columbia University, host of the language podcast Lexicon Valley, and Contributing Editor at The Atlantic *\u003cbr\u003e[A] learned and captivating study of how the weirdness of our language unfolded....[Okrent] wields sharp and powerful tools that satisfyingly scratch our linguaphilic itch. * Michael M. Rosen, National Review *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat the Hell, English?    The Colonel of Truth: What is the deal with the word colonel?   Fairweather Vowels: Why is y a sometimes vowel?   Hey Large Spender: Why do we order a large drink and not a big one?   Crazy English: Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?   What the Hell is with What the Hell?   Blame the Barbarians    Thoroughly Tough, Right?: Why don't tough, through, and dough rhyme?   Getting and Giving the General Gist: Why are there two ways to say the letter g?   Egging them On: What is the egg doing in egg on?   I Ated All the Cookies: Why do we have irregular verbs?   It Goes by so Fastly: Why do we move slowly but not fastly? And step softly but not hardly?   Elegantly Clad and Stylishly Shod: Why is it clean-shaven and not clean-shaved?   Six of One, Half a Twoteen of the Other: Why is it eleven, twelve instead of oneteen, twoteen?   Woe is We: Why is it woe is me, not I am woe?   Blame the French   A Sizeable, Substantial, Extensive Vocabulary: Why are there so many synonyms?   Don't inSULT me with that INsult: Why are there noun-verb pairs that only differ by stress?   Without Fail: Why is it without fail and not failure or failing?   Ask the Poets Laureate: Why is it sum total and not total sum?   Of Unrequited Lof: Why isn't of spelled with a v?   Blame the Printing Press   Uninvited Ghuests: Why are ghost, ghastly, and ghoul spelled with a gh?   Gnat, Knot, Comb, Wrist: Why do we have silent consonants?   Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda: Why is there a silent l?   Peek, Peak, Piece, People: Why are there so many ways to write the 'ee' sound?   Crew, Grew, Stew, New...Sew?: Why don't sew and new rhyme?   Blame the snobs   Get Receipts on those Extra Letters: Why is there a p in receipt, an l in salmon, and a b in doubt?   Asthma, Phelgm, and Diarrhea: Why all the extra letters?   The Data are in on the Octopi: What's the deal with Latin plurals?   Too Much Discretion: Keeping discreet and discrete discrete, discreetly   Pick a Color\/Colour: Can't we get this standardized\/standardised?   Blame ourselves   Couth, Kempt, and Ruthful: Why have some words lost their better halves?   If it Ain't Broke, Don't Scramble It: Why is There no egg in eggplant?   Proving the Rule: How can an exception prove a rule?   How Dare You Say How Try You!: Why dare isn't like the other verbs   Release the Meese: Why isn't the plural of moose meese?   Why do Noses Run and Feet Smell?: A corny joke with a serious answer   Negative Fixation: Why can you say \"this won't take long\" but not \"this will take long\"?   Abbreviation Deflation: Why is there an r in Mrs.?   How it Comes to Be: How come we say how come?   Phrasal Verbs, Let's Go Over Them: But don't try to \"go them over.\" (You can look them over though)   Terrible and Terrific, Awful and Awesome: How does the same root get opposite meanings?   Literally Messed Up: How did literally get to mean figuratively?   That's Enough, Now, English   Acknowledgments   Notes   Bibliography","brand":"Oxford University Press Inc","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732646572375,"sku":"9780197539408","price":16.64,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780197539408.jpg?v=1719997787"},{"product_id":"the-english-language-9780198709251","title":"The English Language","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe English language is spoken by more than a billion people throughout the world. But where did English come from? And how has it evolved into the language used today?In this Very Short Introduction Simon Horobin investigates how we have arrived at the English we know today, and celebrates the way new speakers and new uses mean that it continues to adapt. Engaging with contemporary concerns about correctness, Horobin considers whether such changes are improvements, or evidence of slipping standards. What is the future for the English language? Will Standard English continue to hold sway, or we are witnessing its replacement by newly emerging Englishes?ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA lively and erudite introduction to the richness and variety of our language from one of the world's leading experts on English usage and its history. Professor Horobin does more than survey he argues for an open and welcoming approach to the diversity of the vernacular, to the debates on grammar and standards, and to the challenges of change and variation in our own lives. A book for students, teachers, and all lovers of language alike. * Seth Lerer, author of History of the English Language *\u003cbr\u003eIntelligent, witty, and engaging, the book is for anyone who is interested in how English became what it is today and who is wondering where it will go next. * Tim William Machan, University of Notre Dame *\u003cbr\u003eReview from previous edition Simon Horobin's marvellous How English Became English ... should be handed to every pedant you know. * Jonathan Wright, Books of the Year 2016, Catholic Herald *\u003cbr\u003eIn this concise narrative of the history of the English language, Horobin analyzes historical context just enough to unfurl the object called 'English.' * Library Journal, starred review *\u003cbr\u003eA happy mixture of scholarship, clear writing, and humour * Kirkus *\u003cbr\u003eThere's a lot of detailed information in this succinct book and it's very readable * Susan Elkin, Independent on Sunday *\u003cbr\u003einformative and entertaining new book * Oliver Kamm, The Times *\u003cbr\u003eHorobin is ... on a laudable and ... interesting mission to educate the wider public. * Faramerz Dabhoiwala, Guardian *\u003cbr\u003eWe all have our hobbyhorses when it comes to the finer points of English grammar. Simon Horobin's witty book provides the antidote to our pedantry. * Jonathan Wright, Herald *\u003cbr\u003eHorobin's succinctness is impressive * Times Literary Supplement *\u003cbr\u003eDistilling an inexhaustible topic into 170 short pages. Horobin gives an unstuffy guide to the descent, dialects and global diversification of English. Pragmatic rather than pedantic, he eschews grammarian finger-wagging in favour of some pointers on why we still care about getting it 'right'. * Oxford Today *\u003cbr\u003ethis book was as good as expected * The Bookbag *\u003cbr\u003eHorobin clearly loves the English language, but unlike many self-proclaimed language experts, he is not fearful of what the future of English may hold ... How English Became English reminds me what it was that I found so fascinating about the English language. * Jenny Hallquist, Babel *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1: What is English? 2: Origins 3: Authority 4: Standards 5: Varieties 6: Global English 7: Why do we care? References Further Reading Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732767617367,"sku":"9780198709251","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"wordsmiths-and-warriors-9780198729136","title":"Wordsmiths and Warriors","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWho formed and shaped the English language? David and Hilary Crystal take us on a journey through Britain to discover the people who gave our language its colour and character; Saxon invaders, medieval scholars, poets, reformers, dictionary writers. Part travelogue, part history, this beautifully illustrated book is full of unexpected delights.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat makes this book stand out is Crystals narrative which is chatty and colloquial... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have an interest in language and history, so this ticked all the boxes for me, but it reaches across a range of interests meaning that geographers, historians, linguists, archaeologists and those with an interest in the origins of the country would get a lot out of it. * Sonya Lipczynska, Reference Reviews *\u003cbr\u003eAn absorbing read * The Good Book Guide *\u003cbr\u003ean attractive and digestible book * Shropshire Star, Toby Neal *\u003cbr\u003eAn original idea, enjoyably realised, this is an entertaining, handsomely illustrated guide * Independent, Christopher Hirst *\u003cbr\u003esparkling new book * The Press (York) *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Pegwell Bay: arrival ; 2. Caistor St Edmund: the earliest known English word ; 3. Undley Common: the first recorded English sentence ; 4. Jarrow: Bede and the origins of English ; 5. Lindisfarne: glossaries and translations ; 6. Ruthwell: the finest runic inscription ; 7. Stourton and Edington: King Alfred and the birth of English ; 8. Maldon: the ultimate warrior wordsmith ; 9. Winchester: the first standard English ; 10. Cerne Abbas: Aelfric and the first English conversation ; 11. Ely: Wulfstan and Old English style ; 12. Peterborough: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle ; 13. Battle and Normans Bay: the French connection ; 14. Bourne: Orrm and English spelling ; 15. Areley Kings: Layamon's English Chronicle ; 16. Chester and Berkeley: Higden, Trevisa, and the rise of English ; 17. Rhuddlan: the English language in Wales ; 18. Manorbier: little England beyond Wales ; 19. Dunfermline: the birth of Scots English ; 20. Talbot Yard, London SE1: Chaucer and Middle English ; 21. Canterbury: from ancient to modern ; 22. Cursitor Street, London EC4: Chancery and standard English ; 23. Tothill Street, London SW1: Caxton and printing English ; 24. St Albans: Juliana Berners and collective nouns ; 25. Paston: a family of letters ; 26. Lutterworth: John Wycliffe and Bible translation ; 27. North Nibley: William Tyndale and the English Bible ; 28. Chichester: William Bullokar and the first English grammar ; 29. Suffolk Lane and St Paul's, London EC4: Richard Mulcaster and the status of English ; 30. Stratford-upon-Avon: Shakespeare and English idiom ; 31. Park Street, London SE1: Shakespeare and linguistic innovation ; 32. Oakham: Robert Cawdrey and the first dictionary ; 33. Willoughby: John Smith and new Englishes ; 34. East India Dock, London E14: the East India Company and global English ; 35. Hampton Court Palace: King James and his Bible ; 36. Black Notley: John Ray and English proverbs ; 37. Aldwincle: John Dryden and an English Academy ; 38. Old Broad Street, London EC2: the Royal Society and scientific English ; 39. Rochdale: Tim Bobbin and local dialect ; 40. Lichfield: Johnson and the dictionary ; 41. Old St Pancras Church, London NW1: John Walker and pronunciation ; 42. York: Lindley Murray and English grammar ; 43. Alloway: Robert Burns and Scots ; 44. Peebles and Edinburgh: the Chambers brothers and encyclopedic English ; 45. Grasmere: William Wordsworth and poetic language ; 46. West Malvern: Roget and the thesaurus ; 47. Bath: Isaac Pitman and English shorthand ; 48. Oxford: James Murray and the Oxford English Dictionary ; 49. Winterborne Came: William Barnes and speech-craft ; 50. Higher Bockhampton: Thomas Hardy and Wessex dialect ; 51. Saltaire: Joseph Wright and English dialects ; 52. Hinton St George: Henry Fowler and English usage ; 53. Ayot St Lawrence: George Bernard Shaw and spelling reform ; 54. Laugharne: Dylan Thomas and Welsh English ; 55. Tilbury: the Empire Windrush and new dialects ; 56. University College, London WC1: Daniel Jones and English phonetics ; 57. University College, London WC1: the Survey of English Usage ; Regional Grouping ; Index of Places ; General Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732772565335,"sku":"9780198729136","price":13.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"the-oxford-dictionary-of-proverbs-9780198734901","title":"The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis unique and authoritative dictionary contains over 1,100 of the most widely used proverbs in English, utilizing the latest research from the Oxford Languages team to source them. This edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, broadening the cultural range of the proverbs selected, and covering sayings of international origins. With a strong emphasis on concisely explaining the meaning of the proverbs described, the dictionary also provides additional examples of usage, and includes a fascinating history for many entries. Arranged in A-Z order and with a useful thematic index, A Dictionary of Proverbs is ideal for browsing and perfectly suited for quick reference. Look up your old favourites, learn punchy new expressions to get your point across, and find the answer to that crossword clue. It is never too late to learn: find proverbs relevant to every aspect of life in this entertaining and informative collection.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e... Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs is an indispensable reference tool for every library shelf. Like the content, this dictionary will never go out of style or fall into disuse after all, \"a good beginning makes a good ending\". * Refrence Reviews *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEditor's Preface ; Abbreviations ; Introduction ; Dictionary ; Bibliography ; Thematic Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732773318999,"sku":"9780198734901","price":12.34,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780198734901.jpg?v=1719998336"},{"product_id":"bagels-bumf-and-buses-9780198832270","title":"Bagels Bumf and Buses","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhere do our everyday words come from? The bagel you eat for breakfast, the bumf you have to wade through at the office, and the bus that takes you home again: we use these words without thinking about their origins or how their meanings have changed over time. Simon Horobin takes the reader on a journey through a typical day, showing how the words we use to describe routine activities - getting up, going to work, eating meals - have surprisingly fascinating histories.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eif you've ever wished, \"If only the OED were organized categorically instead of alphabetically,\" then your wish has been granted in the form of Bagels, Bumf, and Busses: A Day in the Life of the English Language. Amateur etymologists will rejoice and enjoy this book * Timothy Esposito, past president of the STC Philadelphia Metro Chapter., Technical Communication *\u003cbr\u003eHorobin's often humorous and always enthusiastic work will entertain readers by revealing the dynamic nature of language. * Publishers Weekly *\u003cbr\u003eFor anyone curious about where everyday English words \"come from,\" this accessible text will prove to be an enticing choice, as well as a useful guide for general readers seeking resources on English usage and popular linguistics. * Library Journal *\u003cbr\u003eFans of language and of pursuing trivia will find a goldmine of the unusual, surprising, and always fascinating history of everyday words. * Mark Knoblauch, Booklist *\u003cbr\u003eAll in all, an interesting and entertaining way to motivate students to explore language through etymology. * Maurice Cassidy, Training, Language \u0026amp; Culture *\u003cbr\u003eAnyone with a passion for language or a burning desire to learn more trivia should check out Bagels, Bumf, and Buses. * Valentina Palladino, ars Technica *\u003cbr\u003eA book to make you stop and marvel over words we use unthinkingly every day. Simon Horobin offers a tantalising glimpse into the hidden lives of our vocabulary. If you've ever pondered why eggs is eggs, or whether toadying up to someone ever involved a real amphibian, this is the book for you. * Susie Dent, lexicographer and etymologist *\u003cbr\u003eA very entertaining etymological journey through the things you do every day... Horobin takes the reader through a veritable bombardment of fun facts about quotidian words that secretly hide fascinating stories... This is good for both people new to linguistics and experienced etymologists, because there's nothing technical about it but there's something to learn for all levels - I definitely recommend it. * Adam Aleksic, The Etymology Nerd *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStarting the Day 1: Getting up 2: Breakfasting 3: Getting dressed 4: Commuting Work 5: The office 6: Law and Order 7: Politics 8: Religion 9: Health services 10: Parenting Eating and drinking 11: Breaktimes 12: Mealtimes 13: Eating out Sport and leisure 14: Sport 15: Animals Evening 16: Going out 17: Drinking 18: Staying in","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732802580823,"sku":"9780198832270","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"oxford-dictionary-of-idioms-oxford-quick-reference-9780198845621","title":"Oxford Dictionary of Idioms Oxford Quick","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis dictionary defines a myriad of phrases and sayings that are used daily in the English language. It contains more than 10,000 idioms, including figurative expressions, similes, sayings, and proverbs, and features usage examples and information on origins for many of them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI'm impressed with this book ... it has, so far, delivered the goods every time I've consulted it about a particular expression ... A brilliant addition to your reference collection * Terry Freedman, Writer's Know-How *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreface A-Z Text Thematic Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732809691479,"sku":"9780198845621","price":999.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"lets-talk-9780198850694","title":"Lets Talk","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBanter, chit-chat, gossip, natter, tete-a-tete: these are just a few of the terms for the varied ways in which we interact with one another through conversation. David Crystal explores the factors that motivate so many different kinds of talk and reveals the rules we use unconsciously, even in the most routine exchanges of everyday conversation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA useful addition to an English teacher's armoury and certain to pique students' interest in the language that happens all around them, all the time... Let's Talk is a powerful statement about our species and the centrality to it of conversation in all its collaborative glory. * Nikolai Luck, Teaching English *\u003cbr\u003eFor Crystal, the aim of a conversation is to make everyone happy or, at least, satisfied at the end ... [he] has definitely achieved that. * Training, Language \u0026amp; Culture *\u003cbr\u003eFor the teacher or advanced student there are masses of insights in the book and examples of how language is used to manage conversation... For Crystal the aim of a conversation is to make every-one happy or, at least, satisfied at the end. Citing Dr Johnson once again, conversation should create 'a pleasing impression'. David Crystal has definitely achieved that. * Barry Tomalin, Training, Language \u0026amp; Culture *\u003cbr\u003eI've always enjoyed Crystal's books and this one was no exception... it's certainly a good read I would recommend to anyone with an interest in language or conversation. * Shiny New Books *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1: Greetings! 2: In the beginning... 3: A thousand years of conversation 4: Exchanges 5: Taking turns - or not 6: Interrupting 7: What we talk about 8: How we talk about it 9: Taking it easy 10: Story-telling 11: Stylistic options 12: The vocal and the visual 13: Conversation as theatre 14: Online 'conversations' 15: Cultural conversations 16: Breaking the rules 17: Does conversation change? 18: #Almost done Epilogue References Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732812837207,"sku":"9780198850694","price":20.24,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780198850694.jpg?v=1719998506"},{"product_id":"how-dead-languages-work-9780198852827","title":"How Dead Languages Work","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat could Greek poets or Roman historians say in their own language that would be lost in translation? After all, different languages have different personalities, and this is especially clear with languages of the ancient and medieval world. This volume celebrates six such languages - Ancient Greek, Latin, Old English, Sanskrit, Old Irish, and Biblical Hebrew - by first introducing readers to their most distinctive features, then showing how these linguistic traits play out in short excerpts from actual ancient texts. It explores, for instance, how Homer''s Greek shows signs of oral composition, how Horace achieves striking poetic effects through interlaced word order in his Latin, and how the poet of Beowulf attains remarkable intensity of expression through the resources of Old English. But these are languages that have shared connections as well. Readers will see how the Sanskrit of the Rig Veda uses words that come from roots found also in English, how turns of phrase characteristic of the Hebrew Bible found their way into English, and that even as unusual a language as Old Irish still builds on common Indo-European linguistic patterns. Very few people have the opportunity to learn these languages, and they can often seem mysterious and inaccessible: drawing on a lucid and engaging writing style and with the aid of clear English translations throughout, this book aims to give all readers, whether scholars, students, or interested novices, an aesthetic appreciation of just how rich and varied they are.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe style is light and breezy, and is generally easy to follow, but G. tends to dwell in great depth on highly specialised points. There is something for everyone... * MCCOMAS TAYLOR, The Australian National University, THE CLASSICAL REVIEW *\u003cbr\u003eOn the whole, this is an excellent book, and it should prove a very stimulating introduction to ancient languages in general and to comparative linguistics for students and for interested laypersons. The author claims that he wishes to convey enthusiasm for learning the languages discussed in the book, as well as to acquaint students with a certain degree of linguistic diversity, and he masterfully succeeds in doing this. * Audrey Mathys, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *\u003cbr\u003eThe book takes readers through Greek, Latin, Old English and the Germanic Languages, Sanskrit, Old Irish and the Celtic Languages, and Hebrew, introducing their phonology, morphology, lexicons, grammar, and excerpting passages from texts such as the Iliad, Beowulf, and the Rig Veda, to illustrate how the flavor of a language is always lost a little in translation. * Malcolm Keating, Yale-NUS College, New Books Network *\u003cbr\u003e(...) this is a book about the impossibility or the limits of translation and the awareness of how much is lost when, by changing the language, the expressive resources also have to be altered. * The Euphrosyne, Vol 50 *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1: Introduction 2: Greek The sounds of Greek Word-forms The Iliad Formulas Thucydides and abstract language Pauline prepositions 3: Latin How Latin works Lucretius Horace and Housman Tacitus 4: Old English and the Germanic Languages Grimm's Law and umlaut Verbs, strong and weak Old English Beowulf 5: Sanskrit The sounds of Sanskrit Sandhi Nouns in Sanskrit The Rig Veda How to kill a dragon The hidden names of the dawn-cows 6: Old Irish and the Celtic Languages The eccentricities of the Irish language Old Irish in action Welsh 7: Hebrew The sounds of Semitic How Semitic words change shape Let there be light Noun chains 8: Epilogue and Further Reading Endmatter Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732813787479,"sku":"9780198852827","price":23.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780198852827.jpg?v=1719998511"},{"product_id":"english-prepositions-their-meanings-and-uses-9780198868712","title":"English Prepositions Their Meanings and Uses","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book provides an integrated account of the main prepositions of English, outlining their various forms and illustrating contrastive senses. It is written in a clear and accessible style, and will be of interest to to students and scholars of the English language, including instructors of English as a second language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreliminaries Abbreviations and conventions 1: A story to tell Part I. The Stage is Set 2: Grammatical roles 3: Phrasal verbs 4: Prepositional verbs Part II. The Players 5: The mainstays: of, for 6: Supporting artists: by, with, together, together-with, except(-for), but(-for), despite, in-spite-of 7: The central spatial prepositions: at, to, toward(s), from 8: Enclosure: in, into, out, out-of; within, without, inside(-of), outside(-of) 9: Connection and adjacency: On, upon, onto, off, off-of; against; beside(s) 10: Superiority: up, up-to, down 11: Position: Over, under, above, below, beneath, underneath; behind, ahead(-of), in-front(-of), back, forth, forwards(s), backward(s); beyond, near(-to), close-to, far-from; along alongside, across, through, throughout 12: Distribution: among(st), amid(st), between, in-between; (a)round; about, concerning 13: Separation: Apart(-from), aside(-from), away(-from) 14: Temporal: Since, because(-of); until\/till, up-until\/up-till; during; after, afterward(s), before, beforehand; past; and more 15: Do it your way Sources and notes References Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732822864215,"sku":"9780198868712","price":40.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"oxford-dictionary-of-word-origins-9780198868750","title":"Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn absorbing A-Z which explores the origins and development of over 3,000 words in the English language. Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled dictionary research programme and language monitoring it brings to light the intriguing and often unusual stories of some of our most used words and phrases.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eContents Abbreviations and Other Text Conventions Introduction Wordbuilding A-Z Glossary Sources","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732822962519,"sku":"9780198868750","price":12.59,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780198868750.jpg?v=1719998549"},{"product_id":"writing-a-war-of-words-9780198870159","title":"Writing a War of Words","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWriting a War of Words is the first exploration of the war-time quest by Andrew Clark - a writer, historian, and volunteer on the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary - to document changes in the English language from the start of the First World War up to 1919. Clark''s unique series of lexical scrapbooks, replete with clippings, annotations, and real-time definitions, reveals a desire to put living language history to the fore, and to create a record of often fleeting popular use. The rise of trench warfare, the Zeppelinophobia of total war, and descriptions of shellshock (and raid shock on the Home Front) all drew his attentive gaze. The archive includes examples from a range of sources, such as advertising, newspapers, and letters from the Front, as well as documenting social issues such as the shifting forms of representation as women ''did their bit'' on the Home Front. Lynda''s Mugglestone''s fascinating investigation of this valuable archive reassesses the conventiona\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWriting a War of Words is scholarly, as a definitive study should be, but eminently readable. * E. L. Battistella, CHOICE *\u003cbr\u003eWriting a War of Words is an invaluable contribution both to lexicography and history 'from below', recording words and expressions which have been preserved thanks to Clark's immense efforts. It will certainly inspire future research which will provide new insights into the lexical impact of the Great War on the English language. The book will be of interest to lexicographers, language historians, historians and anyone interested in World War I and its discourse, which can be extended to the discourse of war in general. * Prof.Dr. Lelija Socanac, The LINGUIST *\u003cbr\u003eLynda Mugglestone's \"Writing a War of Words\" is a fascinating account of the immense effort of Andrew Clark, a diarist, historian and philologist, to record in minute detail the fleeting existence of English words and shifting meanings which appeared during the Great War in a variety of unconventional sources such as advertising, newspapers, and letters from the Front. This immense lexical richness vividly recreates different aspects of everyday life of ordinary people facing the harsh realities of war. * Lelija Socanac, University of Zagreb, Linguist List *\u003cbr\u003eMugglestone has a shrewd understanding of the technical business and psychological climate of lexicography. Her research is scrupulous, and through her analysis Clark's catalogue of usage comes to seem an achievement of almost Johnsonian proportions - each page a time capsule, and the whole project an extraordinarily detailed map of the period's changing \"langscape\"... a generous tribute to his [Clark's] linguistic curiosity and curatorial intelligence. * Henry Hitchings, Times Literary Supplement *\u003cbr\u003eThe voluminous diaries and scrapbooks Andrew Clark compiled during World War One prove him alert to words and usage of the time and a skilled and prescient commentator on their significance. In her new book, Lynda Mugglestone reconstructs Clark's account of the 'war of words' amidst the war, his finger, as she puts it, 'on the pulse of words in time', equally an apt description of Mugglestone's historical touch. Anyone with an interest in the history of English, the Great War, or the Oxford English Dictionary, to which Clark contributed, must read Writing a War of Words. * Michael Adams, Indiana University Bloomington *\u003cbr\u003eLynda Mugglestone's Writing a War of Words is a revelation. It tells the story of Andrew Clark, a diarist and philologist whose reflections on language and the Great War offer a wealth of information about English linguistic history and its social contexts. But more generally, it reveals the centrality of the Great War to the study of the English Language itself. Much has been made of Tolkien's war and its impact on his philology and fantasy. Clark is different: he is a personal, self-reflective writer, an acute observer of words and people, and a historian of the imagination. His diary is a true discovery, and Professor Mugglestone shows him standing on a par with Siegfried Sassoon and Robert Graves. Writing a War of Words will stand with Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory as a lasting, revisionary account of early twentieth-century personal writing, language change, and the wartime literary imagination. * Seth Lerer, University of California, San Diego *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePreface: Writing a War of Words 1: Word-hoard: From History to Historical Principles 2: Reading into Words 3: 'Doing One's Bit': From Voluntary Endeavour to Conscription 4: The Langscape of War 5: Border Crossings 6: English in a Time of Total War 7: Writing the Woman's Part 8: Written on the Body 9: Last Words","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732823781719,"sku":"9780198870159","price":29.92,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780198870159.jpg?v=1719998559"},{"product_id":"writing-and-script-9780199567782","title":"Writing and Script","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWriting is a defining marker of civilisation; without it there could be no accumulation of knowledge. Andrew Robinson tells the fascinating story of the history of writing, considering its development, and examining the enormous variety of writing and scripts we use today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUser-friendly survey. * Steven Poole, The Guardian *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Writing and its emergence ; 2. Development and diffusion of writing ; 3. Disappearance of scripts ; 4. Decipherment and undeciphered scripts ; 5. How writing systems work ; 6. Alphabets ; 7. Chinese and Japanese writing ; 8. Scribes and materials ; 9. Writing goes electronic ; Chronology: 3300 BC to AD 2000 ; References ; Further reading ; Index","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732866216279,"sku":"9780199567782","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"what-made-the-crocodile-cry-9780199574155","title":"What Made the Crocodile Cry","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Blackout Crew have a song with the title ''Put a donk on it'' - but what is a ''donk''? Which ending came first: ''-ise'' or ''-ize''? Where does the idea of a ''white elephant'' come from? Who decides on the collective noun for something? And what is it that made the crocodile cry?Sparkling with insight and linguistic curiosity, this delightful compendium answers 101 of the most intriguing questions about the English language, from word origins and spelling to grammar and usage. Irresistible to anyone with an interest in the words around them.Supported by Oxford''s celebrated dictionary research programme, Susie Dent tackles these and many other fascinating questions in this wonderfully accessible and endlessly entertaining exploration of the English language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBrilliantly fascinating and entertaining. * Cotswold Life *","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732867264855,"sku":"9780199574155","price":11.39,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780199574155.jpg?v=1719998736"},{"product_id":"languages-9780199590599","title":"Languages","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow many languages are there? What differentiates one language from another? Are new languages still being discovered? Why are so many languages disappearing? The diversity of languages today is varied, but it is steadily declining. In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen Anderson answers the above questions by looking at the science behind languages. Considering a wide range of different languages and linguistic examples, he demonstrates how languages are not uniformly distributed around the world; just as some places are more diverse than others in terms of plants and animal species, the same goes for the distribution of languages. Exploring the basis for linguistic classification and raising questions about how we identify a language, as well as considering signed languages as well as spoken, Anderson examines the wider social issues of losing languages, and their impact in terms of the endangerment of cultures and peoples. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Introduction: dimensions of linguistic diversity ; 2. How many languages are there in the world? ; 3. Phylogenetic linguistics: establishing linguistic relationships ; 4. The future of languages ; 5. Some problems in the counting of languages ; 6. The genotypes of languages ; 7. The diversity of signed languages ; 8. Conclusion: the unity of human language ; References ; Further reading","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732870934871,"sku":"9780199590599","price":9.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"the-oxford-guide-to-etymology-9780199691616","title":"The Oxford Guide to Etymology","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe best introduction to word history ever published combines scholarship with readability. OED's chief etymologist shows how words originate and change. He explores the histories of place and personal names and explains how to use different kinds of evidence, historical as well as linguistic. This is a book for everyone interested in words.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is an immaculate work in every sense, proudly flying the banners of authority and of hegemony ... a galazy of fascinating examples ... a brilliant, addictive work indispensable for school and academic libraries at all levels, and for all with any interest in words and the enchanted patterns they weave. * H. G. A. Hughes, Reference Reviews *\u003cbr\u003ea very readable, informative, content-packed introduction for the beginner; for the initiated it provides an incentive to ponder the many open questions presented. As such it can be unreservedly recommended. * Elmar Seebold, Anglia *\u003cbr\u003eOur strong expectations of The Oxford Guide to Etymology are fully realized * Nicoline van der Sijs, Nederlandse Taalkunde *\u003cbr\u003eVery much to be welcomed * Paul T. Roberge, English Language and Linguistics *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAbout this book ; 1. Introduction ; 2. What is a Word? Which Words Need Etymologies? ; 3. Are Words Coherent Entities? ; 4. Word Formation ; 5. Lexical Borrowing ; 6. The Mechanisms of Borrowing ; 7. Change in Word Form ; 8. Semantic Change ; 9. Etymology and Names ; 10. Conclusion ; Glossary ; Suggested for Further Reading ; References ; General Index ; Index of Word Forms","brand":"Oxford University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48732887220567,"sku":"9780199691616","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780199691616.jpg?v=1719998816"},{"product_id":"the-happiness-dictionary-9780349417172","title":"The Happiness Dictionary","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''A delightful compendium'' - \u003ci\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHave you ever had a feeling that you couldn''t quite describe, because no English word exists for it?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndeed, without such a word, it''s difficult to remember or understand the feeling, and to talk about it with other people. This applies to all aspects of life, but most of all to that most sought-after of feelings, happiness, where our ability to both experience and understand it is limited by the words at our disposal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, all is not lost. Even if English has not created a word for a specific feeling, another language probably has. These are known as ''untranslatable'' words, because they lack an exact equivalent in another language. By discovering and learning these words, the boundaries of our world expand accordingly. These words allow us to give voice to feelings that we''ve probably experienced, but have previously lacked the ability to conceptualise. They may even allow us to encoun\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ea delightful book * Daily Mail *\u003cbr\u003e[a] delightful compendium * Evening Standard *\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48733669949783,"sku":"9780349417172","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780349417172.jpg?v=1720001133"},{"product_id":"the-happiness-dictionary-words-from-around-the-world-to-help-us-lead-a-richer-life-9780349417196","title":"The Happiness Dictionary Words from Around the","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e''A delightful compendium'' - \u003ci\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHave you ever had a feeling that you couldn''t quite describe, because no English word exists for it?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIndeed, without such a word, it''s difficult to remember or understand the feeling, and to talk about it with other people. This applies to all aspects of life, but most of all that most sought-after of feelings, happiness, where our ability to both experience and understand it is limited by the words at our disposal. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, all is not lost. Even if English has not created a word for a specific feeling, another language probably has. These are known as ''untranslatable'' words, because they lack an exact equivalent in another language. By discovering and learning these words, the boundaries of our world expand accordingly. These words allow us to give voice to feelings that we''ve probably experienced, but have previously lacked the ability to conceptualise. They may even allow us to encounte\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ea delightful book * Daily Mail *\u003cbr\u003e[a] delightful compendium * Evening Standard *\u003cbr\u003eA delightful book * Daily Mail *\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48733670015319,"sku":"9780349417196","price":14.24,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780349417196.jpg?v=1720001133"},{"product_id":"the-secret-life-of-words-9780719564550","title":"The Secret Life of Words","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJourney into the history of English and discover how words have been absorbed into our language to make it what it is today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings's excavations are a treat. He presents the best gleanings of academia in a winning, conversational style. Almost every spadeful yields an etymological nugget . . . elegantly and entertainingly written' * Financial Times *\u003cbr\u003e'[It] disentangles an intriguing narrative from a mass of information, revealing the distinct cultural climates that produced certain words and bearing witness to an increasing global language, always morphing into something new' * Guardian *\u003cbr\u003e'A fascinating exploration of the rich borrowings, exchanges and couplings of the language' * Ben Macintyre, The Times *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings delves into words, resurfacing with their surprising origins' * The Times *\u003cbr\u003e'It is a book that brings etymology fizzingly alive ... it teems with vivid, quirky evidence of the way the English vocabulary bears continuing witness to our cultural history' * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e'His book is a patient, thorough and highly entertaining excavation' * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings's examples cover the full span of English' * Observer *\u003cbr\u003e'Expert analysis ... this is a wonderfully well-organised and entertaining book, which thoroughly deserved to win last year's John Llewellyn Rhys Prize' * Daily Mail *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings has teased out the stories lurking behind the language to provide a most satisfying whole' * Publishing News *\u003cbr\u003e'Much more than a collage of etymological trivia, this is a dense and thorough excavation of the stories that lie behind the words we say' * Metro *\u003cbr\u003e'Quite how Hitchings has managed to wrestle this dizzying mountain of dense information into such an elegant narrative . . . is a feat almost as admirable as that of the great lexicographer. His book is painstakingly detailed, closely argued and suffused with a contagious enthusiasm for the secrets woven into the fabric of our words * Daily Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings steps deftly round the traps and the stereotypes, while throwing up great clouds of delicious trivia' * Peter Robins, Daily Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e'Filled with fascinating nuggets' * Independent *\u003cbr\u003e'A thrilling narrative history of our uniquely beautiful and thriving language' * Catholic Herald *\u003cbr\u003e'Comprehensive guide ... with countless revelations and world-related trivia, this is the often surprising story of the words we take for granted' * Heritage *\u003cbr\u003e'This is a hugely informative and non-academic account' * Sunday Tribune *\u003cbr\u003e'Fascinating subject ... a detailed, comprehensive study ...there are lots of surprises, and the  author's enthusiasm is infectious. An entertaining and informative read' * Shropshire Star *\u003cbr\u003eMuch more interesting than a simple dictionary of etymology * Writing Magazine *\u003cbr\u003eMarvellous, scholarly and beautifully written, quite the best of its kind I have read in years ... wise and witty * Oldie *\u003cbr\u003e'Wonderfully detailed history ... a rich and rewarding read' * Good Book Guide *\u003cbr\u003e'The author's deliverings reveal much that intrigues about our history and about our social environment' * This England *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings's excavations are a treat. He presents the best gleanings of academia in a winning, conversational style. Almost every spadeful yields an etymological nugget . . . elegantly and entertainingly written' * Financial Times *\u003cbr\u003e'[It] disentangles an intriguing narrative from a mass of information, revealing the distinct cultural climates that produced certain words and bearing witness to an increasing global language, always morphing into something new' * Guardian *\u003cbr\u003e'A fascinating exploration of the rich borrowings, exchanges and couplings of the language' * Ben Macintyre, The Times *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings delves into words, resurfacing with their surprising origins' * The Times *\u003cbr\u003e'It is a book that brings etymology fizzingly alive ... it teems with vivid, quirky evidence of the way the English vocabulary bears continuing witness to our cultural history' * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e'His book is a patient, thorough and highly entertaining excavation' * Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings's examples cover the full span of English' * Observer *\u003cbr\u003e'Expert analysis ... this is a wonderfully well-organised and entertaining book, which thoroughly deserved to win last year's John Llewellyn Rhys Prize' * Daily Mail *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings has teased out the stories lurking behind the language to provide a most satisfying whole' * Publishing News *\u003cbr\u003e'Much more than a collage of etymological trivia, this is a dense and thorough excavation of the stories that lie behind the words we say' * Metro *\u003cbr\u003e'Quite how Hitchings has managed to wrestle this dizzying mountain of dense information into such an elegant narrative . . . is a feat almost as admirable as that of the great lexicographer. His book is painstakingly detailed, closely argued and suffused with a contagious enthusiasm for the secrets woven into the fabric of our words * Daily Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e'Hitchings steps deftly round the traps and the stereotypes, while throwing up great clouds of delicious trivia' * Peter Robins, Daily Telegraph *\u003cbr\u003e'Filled with fascinating nuggets' * Independent *\u003cbr\u003e'A thrilling narrative history of our uniquely beautiful and thriving language' * Catholic Herald *\u003cbr\u003e'Comprehensive guide ... with countless revelations and world-related trivia, this is the often surprising story of the words we take for granted' * Heritage *\u003cbr\u003e'This is a hugely informative and non-academic account' * Sunday Tribune *\u003cbr\u003e'Fascinating subject ... a detailed, comprehensive study ...there are lots of surprises, and the  author's enthusiasm is infectious. An entertaining and informative read' * Shropshire Star *\u003cbr\u003eMuch more interesting than a simple dictionary of etymology * Writing Magazine *\u003cbr\u003eMarvellous, scholarly and beautifully written, quite the best of its kind I have read in years ... wise and witty * Oldie *\u003cbr\u003e'Wonderfully detailed history ... a rich and rewarding read' * Good Book Guide *","brand":"John Murray Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48736179749207,"sku":"9780719564550","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9780719564550.jpg?v=1723810550"},{"product_id":"introducing-syntax-9781107480643","title":"Introducing Syntax","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePresenting key insights from contemporary syntactic theory in one clear and coherent narrative, this lively textbook provides a concise introduction to the formal theory of syntax, avoiding unnecessary detail. It is suitable for undergraduate students in linguistics, modern languages and English.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'A lucid, accessible, and deeply informed introduction that leads carefully to substantial understanding of language and linguistics. A very welcome contribution.' Noam Chomsky, Massachusetts Institute of Technology\u003cbr\u003e'This introduction to syntax is a new and interesting teaching tool. The way it is conceived allows the students to get insights into the reasoning mechanisms of formal syntax that go beyond technicalities. The approach is sound and solid and also provides useful exercises and activities that help the student to start working with the basic bricks of syntactic theory acquiring at the same time the gist of linguistic analysis.' Cecilia Poletto, Goethe University, Frankfurt and University of Padua, Italy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction. The language machine; 1. Categories and features; 2. Merge; 3. Theta theory; 4. Case theory; 5. Agreement and uninterpretable features; 6. Movement and remerge; 7. Unifying movement and agreement; 8. Syntax and morphology; 9. Syntax and phonology; 10. Syntax and semantics; Afterword; Glossary; References; Index.","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738254422359,"sku":"9781107480643","price":25.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781107480643.jpg?v=1723811863"},{"product_id":"cambridge-topics-in-english-language-language-and-power-9781108402132","title":"Cambridge Topics in English Language Language and","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEssential study guides for the future linguist.  Language and Power is an introduction to how English is used to influence, persuade and position us within hierarchies. It is suitable for students at advanced level and beyond. Written with input from the Cambridge English Corpus, it looks at the linguistic techniques in situations where language is used to exert influence, exploring how contexts affect the language we use. Short activities help explain analysis methods, guiding students through major modern issues and concepts. It summarises key concerns and modern findings, while providing inspiration for language investigations and non-examined assessments (NEAs) with research suggestions.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Language and power: 1.1. Inequality and power imbalance in society; 1.2. The power of language; 2. Types of power: 2.1. Concepts about power; 2.2. Politeness as a power tool; 2.3. Power and genre; 3. Language, power and the media: 3.1. Access to the media; 3.2. The language and power of journalism; 3.3. The language and power of advertising; 3.4. The language and power of charity appeals; 4. Language, power and occupation: 4.1. Exclusive features of occupational language; 4.2. Workplace interactions; 4.3. The negotiation of roles: the customer is always right; 5. Language, power and education: 5.1. Traditional classroom discourse; 5.2. A more collaborative classroom; 6. Language, power and politics: 6.1. Ideology and critical discourse analysis; 6.2. Political rhetoric in speeches, interviews and debates; 7. Language, power and the law: 7.1. A register rooted in tradition; 7.2. Functions and features of legal language in written discourse; 7.3. Spoken language in the courtroom; Ideas and answers; References.","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738279850327,"sku":"9781108402132","price":18.25,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781108402132.jpg?v=1723811885"},{"product_id":"the-cambridge-encyclopedia-of-the-english-language-9781108437738","title":"The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn essential text for a new generation of twenty-first-century English language enthusiasts, its dual purpose as both a reference and textbook will appeal to English language lecturers and students as well as non-native English speakers. Audio resources recorded by David Crystal for this new edition bring the text to life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Modelling English; Part I. The History of English: 2. The origins of English; 3. Old English; 4. Middle English; 5. Early modern English; 6. Modern English; 7. World English; Part II. English Vocabulary: 8. The nature of the lexicon; 9. The sources of the lexicon; 10. Etymology; 11. The structure of the lexicon; 12. Lexical dimensions; Part III. English Grammar: 13. Grammatical mythology; 14. The structure of words; 15. Word classes; 16. The structure of sentences; Part IV. Spoken and Written English: 17. The sound system; 18. The writing system. Part V. Using English: 19. Varieties of discourse; 20. Regional variation; 21. Social variation; 22. Personal variation; 23. Electronic variation; Part VI. Learning About English: 24. Learning English as a mother tongue; 25. New ways of studying English.","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738292171095,"sku":"9781108437738","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781108437738.jpg?v=1723811896"},{"product_id":"the-emoji-revolution-9781108721790","title":"The Emoji Revolution","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhere have emoji come from? Why are they so popular? What do they tell us about the technology-enhanced state of modern society? Far from simply being an amusing set of colourful little symbols, emoji are in the front line of a revolution in the way we communicate. As a form of global, image-based communication, they''re a perfect example of the ingenuity and creativity at the heart of human interaction. But they''re also a parable for the way that consumerism now permeates all parts of our daily existence, taking a controlling interest even in the language we use; and of how technology is becoming ever more entangled in our everyday lives. So how will this split-identity affect the way that online communication develops? Are emoji ushering in a bold new era of empathy and emotional engagement on the internet? Or are they a first sign that we''re handing over the future of human interaction to the machines?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Emoji are a significant development in contemporary communication, deserving serious attention for their impact on both language use and society. The book comes at them from a variety of complementary angles, elucidating their specific nature and function while simultaneously showing how they reflect and influence important developments in the modern globalised world. This insightful integration of the general and the specific places this book among the very best academic work in the field.' Guy Cook, Emeritus Professor of Language in Education, King's College London\u003cbr\u003e'The Emoji Revolution is required reading for anyone with interest in emoji, or communication in general. While the subject matter might seem trivial on the surface, Philip Seargeant takes emoji and its impact very seriously in his book by rigorously examining the historical, political and social contexts of emoji use. Seargeant has produced a tremendous work of scholarship that is also a fun and engaging to read.' Jane Solomon, author of The Dictionary of Difficult Words\u003cbr\u003e'In his book, The Emoji Revolution, Philip Seargeant argues that emojis have become a powerful new way of getting a message across - not just for young people, but for everyone. He provides a fresh perspective on these pictograms and challenges us to think beyond their silliness or simplicity.' Forbes\u003cbr\u003e'The Emoji Revolution adeptly establishes emoji within a broader legacy of language and communication systems. The book is written in a highly engaging style that is peppered with Seargeant's wit and observational humor. The absence of jargon and extensive technical language makes this an accessible text which will appeal to lay audiences, academics, and student readers in a number of humanities and social science disciplines.' Miriam E. Sweeney, New Media and Society\u003cbr\u003e'There is an element of fun and lightness throughout the narrative. However, the topic's overall treatment is serious and scholarly, so we find a mix of serious and fun, and a bit of the best of both worlds.' Jeanette Evans, Technical Communication\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. The what, the why and the where of emoji; 2. Emoji and the history of human communication; 3. Making faces; 4. Metaphors and moral panics; 5. The shaping force of digital technology; 6. People, politics and interpersonal relationships; 7. Diverse identities; 8. Creativity and culture; 9. The emojification of everyday life.","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738324939095,"sku":"9781108721790","price":28.73,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781108721790.jpg?v=1723811928"},{"product_id":"creating-canadian-english-9781108708753","title":"Creating Canadian English","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis lively account of the making of Canadian English traces the variety''s conceptual, social and linguistic developments from the twentieth century to the present. This book is not just another history of Canadian English; it is a history of the variety''s discovery, codification, and eventual acceptance, as well as the contribution of the linguists behind it. Written by an active research linguist focusing on Canadian English, this book is an archive-based biography on multiple levels. Through a combination of new data and re-interpretations of existing studies, a new voice is given to earlier generations of Canadian linguists who, generally forgotten today, shaped the variety and how we think about it. Exploring topics such as linguistic description and codification, dictionary making, linguistic imperialism, linguistic attitudes, language and Canadian identity, or the threat of Americanisation, Dollinger presents a coherent, integrated and balanced account of developments spanning\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Stefan Dollinger has undertaken heroic archival sleuthing to resuscitate the coalition of amateur logophiles and English professors that succeeded in bringing Canadian English into print and, more important, into our consciousness. Through him, this small, almost forgotten band of scholars come to life with their foibles, their labours and above all their dedication.' Jack Chambers, University of Toronto\u003cbr\u003e'For this brilliantly researched book, Stefan Dollinger bravely ventured to parts of the archives other scholars had never reached. He emerged with the fascinating story of how the 'Lennon \u0026amp; McCartney of Canadian English', Walter S. Avis and Charles J. Lovell, persuaded Canada - and then the world - to recognize Canadian English as the distinctive language variety that it truly is.' Peter Trudgill, Université de Fribourg, Switzerland\u003cbr\u003e'It is consistently seasoned with lively examples, gems of Canadianisms, explained in context and documented by references to the DCHP and other works. For anybody interested in such a perspective Dollinger's book is a captivating read.' Edgar W. Schneider, English World-Wide\u003cbr\u003e'… Creating Canadian English provides us with a highly competent and readable story, diligently researched in archives and by interviews, written by a scholar working in Canada, in nuanced Canadian English, that all audiences should find is a helpful introduction to its subject and a clear call for further community-involved efforts. I rate it highly.' David Douglas Robertson, LINGUIST List\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTable of Contents\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. What is Canadian English?; 2. The heritage of Canadian English; 3. Avis pulls it off; 4. The 'technology': slips, slips, and more slips; 5. 1967 – excitement and hype; 6. Riding the wave of success; 7. A global village and a national dictionary war; 8. Decolonizing DCHP-1 and DCHP-2; 9. Is there really a Canadian English?; Further reading.","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738325627223,"sku":"9781108708753","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781108708753.jpg?v=1723811929"},{"product_id":"henry-james-9781349226634","title":"Henry James","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Palgrave Macmillan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738574795095,"sku":"9781349226634","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781349226634.jpg?v=1720049522"},{"product_id":"covert-patterns-of-modality-9781443840590","title":"Covert Patterns of Modality","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis typological overview compares the degree to which different languages have means to give expression to modality (possibility, necessity) without lexical and direct inflectional means.","brand":"Cambridge Scholars Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48739215507799,"sku":"9781443840590","price":999.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"thinking-inside-the-box-9781472144621","title":"Thinking Inside the Box","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA delightful, erudite, and immersive exploration of the crossword puzzle and its fascinating history from a brilliant young writer.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWho would ever have thought the innocent crossword would hide such an intriguing story! After reading Adrienne Raphel's beautifully researched account, full of humor and personal insight, I've come to see these puzzles in a new light, and I certainly now treat their creators with fresh respect. -- Professor David Crystal, author of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThinking Inside the Box\u003c\/i\u003e is a witty, wise, and wonderfully weird journey that will change the way you think. Raphel is an insatiably curious and infectiously passionate guide who plunges headfirst into the rich world of puzzles and the people who love them to reveal the fascinating acrobatics of language and the inner life of words. 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Here is a wonder-book for word-lovers' Jeanette Winterson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eA lively, entertaining, and illuminating read. I loved it\u003c\/b\u003e’ \u003cb\u003eSusie Dent\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhat do three murderers, Karl Marx's daughter and a vegetarian vicar have in common?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThey all helped create the Oxford English Dictionary.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Oxford English Dictionary has long been associated with elite institutions and Victorian men. But the Dictionary didn't just belong to the experts; it relied on contributions from members of the public. By 1928, its 414,825 entries had been crowdsourced from a surprising and diverse group of people, from astronomers to murderers, naturists, pornographers, suffragists and queer couples.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLexicographer Sarah Ogilvie dives deep into previously untapped archives to tell a people's history of the OED. Here, she reveals, for the first time, the full story of the making of one of the most famous books in the world - and celebrates the extraordinary efforts of the Dictionary People.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e** A Financial Times, TLS and Daunt Books Book of the Year 2023 **\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Utterly fascinating, entertaining, astonishing and as clever as a box of monkeys \u003c\/b\u003e...\u003cb\u003e I completely love it' Joanna Lumley\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Full marks to Sarah Ogilvie... guaranteed to grab those of us obsessed with books, language and mystery\u003c\/b\u003e' \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFinancial Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'[An] astonishing book' \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'\u003c\/i\u003eTouching \u003ci\u003e... \u003c\/i\u003eThe oddities [of language] enliven the book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e' Observer \u003c\/i\u003e*Book of the Day*\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'[An] \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eaffectionate and accomplished book'\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTLS\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Engaging' \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Marvellous, witty and wholly original' Alan Rusbridger\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Glorious and surprising' Richard Ovenden, Bodley's Librarian and author of \u003ci\u003eBurning the Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘A fascinating and delightful exploration of the Victorian world … Wonderful’ Nicola Shulman, \u003ci\u003eTLS \u003c\/i\u003ePodcast\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSarah Ogilvie has \u003cb\u003ebrought to centre stage a gallery of remarkable characters quite as astonishing, hilarious, terrifying and beguiling as any found in Dickens\u003c\/b\u003e. The “ordinary” people who helped create the Oxford English Dictionary reveal themselves to be anything but ordinary. At the back of it all we are reminded that words themselves are not abstract units of meaning, they are every bit as alive, elusive and enchanting as the people who devote themselves to their study. \u003ci\u003eThe Dictionary People\u003c\/i\u003e serves also, incidentally, as a marvellous record of the incidentals, the daily details, manners and modes of 19th century life. \u003cb\u003eAn unmissable wonderful achievement.\u003c\/b\u003e -- Stephen Fry\u003cbr\u003eProof that not only do our words have extraordinary lives, but so do the people who have documented them for us. \u003cb\u003eA lively, entertaining, and illuminating read. I loved it\u003c\/b\u003e -- Susie Dent\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eUtterly fascinating, entertaining, astonishing \u003c\/b\u003eand\u003cb\u003e as clever as a box of monkeys\u003c\/b\u003e... I am bowled over by Sarah Ogilvie's book and every home should have a copy.\u003cb\u003e I completely love it\u003c\/b\u003e * Joanna Lumley *\u003cbr\u003eWho knew such mysteries lay behind the Oxford English Dictionary? This is a \u003cb\u003efascinating, unique and original\u003c\/b\u003e book which uncovers the people behind the words. \u003cb\u003eA jaw-dropping cross-section of society are revealed for the first time in all their complexity\u003c\/b\u003e * Janina Ramirez, author of Femina *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eExquisitely written\u003c\/b\u003e ... A \u003cb\u003elively, funny book\u003c\/b\u003e full of eccentrics * Jamaica Kincaid *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eEnthralling and exuberant, \u003c\/b\u003eSarah Ogilvie tells the surprising story of the making of the OED. Philologists, fantasists, crackpots, criminals, career spinsters, suffragists, and Australians: \u003cb\u003ehere is a wonder-book for word-lovers\u003c\/b\u003e * Jeanette Winterson *\u003cbr\u003eI love words and I cherish my OED ... having the background of it explained was \u003cb\u003efascinating\u003c\/b\u003e * Val McDermid *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAstonishing\u003c\/b\u003e * Kathryn Hughes, The Sunday Times *\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFascinating\u003c\/b\u003e * Observer *\u003cbr\u003e'An \u003cb\u003eerudite and vivid\u003c\/b\u003e exploration of the origins of the OED in the first crowdsourcing of contributions from thousands of individuals - including murderers, lunatics and cannibals. \u003cb\u003eMarvellous, witty and wholly original'\u003c\/b\u003e * Alan Rusbridger *","brand":"Vintage Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48741264163159,"sku":"9781784744939","price":23.75,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781784744939.jpg?v=1720057067"},{"product_id":"the-etymologicon-a-circular-stroll-through-the-hidden-connections-of-the-english-language-9781785781704","title":"The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll Through the","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Witty and erudite ... stuffed with the kind of arcane information that nobody strictly needs to know, but which is a pleasure to learn nonetheless.' Nick Duerden, \u003ci\u003eIndependent\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'Particularly good ... Forsyth takes words and draws us into their, and our, murky history.' William Leith, \u003ci\u003eEvening Standard\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Etymologicon \u003c\/i\u003eis an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat is the actual connection between disgruntled and gruntled? What links church organs to organised crime, California to the Caliphate, or brackets to codpieces?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMark Forsyth's riotous celebration of the idiosyncratic and sometimes absurd connections between words is a classic of its kind: a mine of fascinating information and a must-read for word-lovers everywhere.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e'Highly recommended' \u003ci\u003eSpectator\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e[Forsyth] riff[s] very entertainingly on the hidden connections of words (from brackets and codpieces, to cappuccinos and monkeys). -- Robert McCrum, The Guardian\u003cbr\u003eI'm hooked on Forsyth's book - Crikey, but this is addictive. -- Mathew Parris, The Times\u003cbr\u003eKudos should go to Mark Forsyth, author of The Etymologicon - Clearly a man who knows his onions, Mr Forsyth must have worked 19 to the dozen, spotting red herrings and unravelling inkhorn terms, to bestow this boon - a work of the first water, to coin a phrase. -- The Daily Telegraph\u003cbr\u003eThis year's must-have stocking filler - the angel on the top of the tree, the satsuma in the sock, the threepenny bit in the plum pudding, the essential addition to the library in the smallest room is Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon. -- Ian Sansom, The Guardian\u003cbr\u003eThe stocking filler of the season. -- Robert McCrum, The Observer\u003cbr\u003eWitty and erudite ... stuffed with the kind of arcane information that nobody strictly needs to know, but which is a pleasure to learn nonetheless. -- Nick Duerden, Independent\u003cbr\u003eThis witty book liberates etymology from the dusty pages of the dictionary and brings it alive. -- Good Book Guide\u003cbr\u003e'The Etymologicon' contains fascinating facts -- Daily Mail\u003cbr\u003eFrom Nazis and film buffs to heckling and humble pie, the obscure origins of commonly-used words and phrases are explained. -- Daily Telegraph\u003cbr\u003eA collection of verbal curiosities ... fascinating. -- Spectator\u003cbr\u003eA perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family, or just a cracking all-year-round read. Highly recommended. -- Spectator\u003cbr\u003eLight, entertaining and fascinating ... This is really one of those books where you have to fight hard to resist telling anyone in earshot little snippets every five minutes. -- Brian Clegg\u003cbr\u003eAn absolute gem ... a pleasure to read. -- Books Monthly\u003cbr\u003eI want this book to be never-ending ... a real winner. -- Books Monthly\u003cbr\u003eIt makes for a very good read ... a perfect Christmas gift for anyone who might be interested in where our words come from. -- A Common Reader\u003cbr\u003eI adored this book. I read and read and then I read some more until it was all gone. It was just my cup of tea, well presented, engaging, witty, wonderful. Full of usable facts and great anecdotes, it's one of the only 'history' books I've read this year that was anything other than dull as dishwater. Full marks. -- The Bookbag\u003cbr\u003eMark Forsyth, who blogs as 'The Inky Fool,' is an extreme and hugely entertaining practitioner. -- Financial Times\u003cbr\u003eThe subtitle ... 'A Circular Stroll Through the Hidden Connections of the English Language' ... is a misdescription. It is not a stroll; it is a plunge on a toboggan where the only way to stop is to fall off. -- Financial Times","brand":"Icon Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48741370167639,"sku":"9781785781704","price":10.44,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781785781704.jpg?v=1720057376"},{"product_id":"a-history-of-reading-9781789140682","title":"A History of Reading","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTracing the complete story of reading from the age when symbol first became sign through to the electronic texts of the present day, Steven Roger Fischer's fascinating A History of Reading offers a sweeping view across time and geography of our evolving relationship with text.   Turning to ancient forms of reading, Fischer takes us to Asia and the Americas and discusses the forms and developments of completely divergent writing systems and scripts. With the Middle Ages in Europe and the Middle East, innovative reinventions of reading emerged--silent and liturgical reading; the custom of lectors; a focus on reading in general education--whereupon printing transformed society's entire attitude toward reading. Fischer charts the explosion of the book trade, its increased audience, and radically changed subject-matter in this era. He also describes the emergence of broadsheets, newspapers, and public readings and traces the effect of new font designs on general legibility, and much more.   Finally, Fischer assesses a future in which read communication will likely exceed oral communication through the use of the personal computer and the internet. Looking at \"visual language\" and modern theories of how reading is processed in the human brain, he asks how the New Reader can reshape reading's fate--suggesting a radical new definition of what reading could be.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"It's an exciting story, which the author tells clearly and chronologically.\"--Daily Telegraph \"Of the three volumes in Fischer's hugely ambitious and sedulously executed trilogy, the first two dealt with language and writing. This one, however, is the most suggestive and open, dedicated not only to the technicalities of his subject but to the everyday experience of communication. . . . Fischer lets his historical readers speak for themselves, ceaselessly seduced by textual magic.\"--Independent \"Starting from the Bronze Age and ending with modern emails and a possible future of e-books, Fischer's A History of Reading takes in a wonderful diversity of things.\"--Nature","brand":"Reaktion Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48741658394967,"sku":"9781789140682","price":11.39,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781789140682.jpg?v=1720058318"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/collections\/language-history-and-general-works.oembed?page=16","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}