Language: history and general works Books

Book SynopsisLatin literature is crowded with portraits of Romans in transit, but despite this ubiquity scholars have been reluctant to read vehicles as significant conveyors of textual and cultural meaning. This book offers the first systematic analysis of the representation of Roman vehicles in Latin literary texts. By moving past approaches that count such vehicular portrayals as either transparent glimpses of reality or soaring poetic symbols, it demonstrates how these conveyances work as a system of representation to structure both the texts in which they appear and underlying cultural discourses surrounding power, gender, and empire. Arranged as a series of interlocking studies, each chapter explores the representation of a particular conveyance across author and text, from the humblest and most quotidian (plaustrum) to the most exalted and symbol-laden (currus).Trade Review… thorough, wide-ranging, thoroughly entertaining … From beginning to end, The Rhetoric of Roman Transportation is an eye-opening and enjoyable ride. The book is written with wit and an evident enthusiasm for the subject matter, and the prose is replete with cultural references.' James Uden, Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewTable of ContentsPreamble: setting out; Introduction: en route; 1. Making use: plaustrum; 2. Power steering: currus; 3. The other chariot: essedum; 4. Conveying women: carpentum; 5. Portable retreats: lectica; Envoi: the end of the road; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisDiscourse markers constitute an important part of linguistic communication. This pioneering book presents a detailed cross-linguistic survey of their development, and their relation to the wider context of sociocultural behaviour. It is essential reading for researchers and students in semantics and pragmatics and discourse analysis.Table of Contents1. The development of discourse markers: an introduction; 2. Concepts of analysis; 3. English discourse markers; 4. French discourse markers; 5. Japanese discourse markers; 6. Korean discourse markers; 7. Discourse markers in language contact; 8. Discussion; 9. Conclusions.

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Pragmatics: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introduction to the study of verbal and nonverbal communication in context. Including nine chapters on the history of pragmatics, current theories, the application of pragmatics, and possible future developments in the field, this book: Offers a comprehensive overview of key ideas in contemporary pragmatics and how these have developed from and beyond the pioneering work of the philosopher Paul Grice; Draws on real-world examples such as political campaign posters and song lyrics to demonstrate how we convey and understand direct and indirect meanings; Explains the effects of verbal, nonverbal, and multimodal communication and how the same words or behaviour can mean different things in different contexts, including what makes utterances more or less polite; Highlights key terms and concepts throughout and provides chapter-end study question

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Book SynopsisRoutledge Language Workbooks provide absolute beginners with practical introductions to core areas of language study. Books in the series provide comprehensive coverage of the area as well as a basis for further investigation. Each Language Workbook guides the reader through the subject using hands-on' language analysis, equipping them with the basic analytical skills needed to handle a wide range of data. Written in a clear and simple style, with all technical concepts fully explained, Language Workbooks can be used for independent study or as part of a taught class.History of English: examines the history of the English language in order to explain the English that is used today introduces key linguistic concepts provides discussion points' to generate debate encourages readers to think critically about the subject involves readers in collecting and analysing their own data contains a mini-corpus' of texts, used for Trade ReviewHistory of English continues to be a great resource for students and teachers alike. This third edition provides even more ideas for discussion and further study, and the new chapter on letters and punctuation adds another valuable dimension. If any workbook can make this slightly daunting subject accessible, this one certainly can.Kim Ballard, formerly Chief Examiner for A level English Language and Head of English at Esher College, UK.This course book is a great introduction to the field and an invaluable resource for both students and teachers. Written in a clear and accessible style, it stimulates discussion and encourages students to carry out empirical research.Anita Auer, University of Lausanne, SwitzerlandTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsUsing this book1 The birth of English: clues in placenames2 Investigating change in English3 Marks on the page: letters and punctuation4 Spellings and speech sounds5 Borrowing words6 New words from old7 Changing meanings8 Grammar I: nouns and inflections9 Grammar II: verbs, inflections and word-order10 Dialects in England11 Standardisation12 World EnglishesAppendix Index

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Book SynopsisSimon Horobin is Professor of English Language and Literature at Oxford University, UK and a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford University, UK.

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'Brilliant! Will make a perfect Xmas stocking filler' Bronya Ralley'Delightful. This dip-in-anywhere book put a smile on my face from the first page . . . for everyone who likes a good chuckle' Ruth MilliganAs we all know, the oxymoron is one of the great beauties of the English language. It has been defined as 'a figure of speech that juxtaposes elements that appear to be contradictory'. Famous examples would include 'bitter-sweet', 'open secret' and 'compassionate Conservatism'.Seriously Funny, and Other Oxymorons brings together a great many examples of the oxymoron genre, amusingly illustrated by Paul Thomas. The book is arranged according to various categories ranging from Popular Culture to Political Principles and Business Ethics, all covered in Simon Brett's inimitably witty style.Anyone with an 'unbiased opinion' will quickly grasp that Seriously Funny makes a 'devilishly nice' book.

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Book SynopsisThe Edge of Words is Rowan Williams'' first book since standing down as Archbishop of Canterbury.Invited to give the prestigious 2014 Gifford Lectures, Dr Williams has produced a scholarly but eminently accessible account of the possibilities of speaking about God taking as his point of departure the project of natural theology.Dr Williams enters into dialogue with thinkers as diverse as Augustine and Simone Weil and authors such as Joyce, Hardy, Burgess and Hoban in what is a compelling essay about the possibility of language about God.Trade ReviewThis is not a long book but it is a profound one. Many readers will find it worthwhile reading each chapter at least twice. The Edge of Words is a book that will influence both the way theologians understand language and their approach to theology -- Paul Richardson * Church of England Newspaper *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 A Future for 'Natural Theology' 2 Can We Say What We Like? Language, Freedom and Determinism 3 Speech and Time: the Unfinishable Business of Language 4 Intelligent Bodies: Language as Material Practice 5 Excessive Speech: Language in Extreme Situations 6 Saying the Unsayable: Where Silence Happens Appendix: On Representation Index

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Book SynopsisGold Medal Winner for Poetry and Special Honours Award for Best of Anthology at the 2020 Nautilus Book Awards. One language is falling silent every two weeks. Half of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today will be lost by the end of this century. With the loss of these languages, we also lose the unique poetic traditions of their speakers and writers.Poems from the Edge of Extinction gathers together 50 poems in languages from around the world that have been identified as endangered; it is a celebration of our linguistic diversity and a reminder of our commonalities and the fundamental role verbal art plays in human life around the world. With poems by influential, award-winning poets such as US poet laureate Joy Harjo, Hawad, Valzhyna Mort, and Jackie Kay, this anthology offers a unique insight into both languages and poetry, taking the reader on an emotional, life-affirming journey into the culture of these beautiful languages.EaTrade ReviewThrilling - and moving too. The cumulative effect is a celebration of the brotherhood of peoples. Grandparents, home, grief, fear, pride, anger - all this and more is yet another reminder that 'this place', the world, is indeed 'beautiful' and it's only the passionate sharing of thoughts and feelings that can keep it that way. * Daily Mail *Share[s] folklore, songs and a richness of world views with a vivacity that heightens their collective call to protect the planet's linguistic, and cultural, ecosystem * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisRobert McColl Millar examines how language has been used in Scotland since the earliest times. While primarily focusing on the histories of the speakers of Scots and Gaelic, and their competition with the encroaching use of (Scottish) Standard English, he also traces the decline and eventual 'death' of Pictish, British and Norn.

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Book Synopsis'Punctuation is not only an important part of our language code; an advanced system of punctuation has been a driving force in our entire Western Civilisation. Nothing less.'With the invention of printing, reading books moved from being an act only performed by priests and aristocrats into an individual, even private, activity. This change helped spark the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution - in which punctuation played a crucial role. As long as texts were read out loud only by an educated elite there was no need for punctuation to mark pauses, full stops or questions.So punctuation - the full stop, the comma, the exclamation mark, the question mark and the semicolon - helped shape modern-day Europe as we know it.

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Book SynopsisThe Irish language has made a huge contribution to the English language as it’s spoken in Ireland and beyond. Micheál Ó Conghaile's 'Colourful Irish Phrases' is a small compendium of characteristic phrases that will alert the reader to the unmistakable difference between our native language and English. Even the most basic words are expressed so differently. Please in Irish is más é do thoil é (if it is your will), and thanks becomes go raibh maith agat (may you receive good). There are many phrases that when translated, word for word, they sound different, unusual and sometimes funny. But above all, they are rich and deeply rooted. Visitors to Ireland who want to get some notion of our native identity will find these phrases both instructive and revealing. Topics covered range across subjects as diverse as insults and put-downs, being human and the gift of the gab.

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Book SynopsisThis 'engaging history of punctuation' (Wall Street Journal) is not only the first history of its kind, but a complete guide on how to use English punctuation. Behind every punctuation mark lies a thousand stories. The punctuation of English, marked with occasional rationality, is founded on arbitrariness and littered with oddities. For a system of a few dozen marks it generates a disproportionate degree of uncertainty and passion, inspiring organisations like the Apostrophe Protection Society and sending enthusiasts, correction-pens in hand, in a crusade against error. Professor Crystal leads us through this minefield with characteristic wit, clarity and commonsense. He gives a fascinating account of the origin and progress of every kind of punctuation mark over one and a half millennia, and he offers sound advice on how punctuation may be used to meet the needs of every occasion and context.Trade ReviewHere is a learned and subtle book that amuses as it instructs, and instructs as it amuses. It deserves to sell three million -- Sam Leith * Guardian *Mr Crystal treats his chosen period with enthusiasm and insight. -- Keith Houston * Wall Street Journal *David Crystal's superb new book is packed full of illuminating examples ... With crisp, tight prose punctuated with self-conscious precision, Crystal provides not only a historical guide but an indispensable reference manual * South China Morning Post *Crystal will delight anyone interested in written language ... he brings scholarly acumen and gravity, as well as delight and good humor, to his subject. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisIn this brilliant transatlantic survival guide, Erin Moore examines the key differences between the British and the Americans through their language. You’ll discover why Americans give – and take – so many bloody compliments and never, ever say ‘shall’ (well hardly ever), as well as what the British really mean when they say ‘proper’, why they believe it is better to be bright than clever and how the word sorry has at least eight different meanings for them.Trade ReviewLively, thought-provoking book -- Brian Viner * Daily Mail *As many of us know, straddling the Atlantic can be quite uncomfortable—and it doesn’t help that the word ‘quite’ doesn’t always mean what you think it means. This is a brilliant guide to the revealing differences between two branches of English from a writer who is funny, smart, and almost worryingly observant. I was charmed from first to last. As an English person I will say, ‘Oh, jolly well done,’ but I’d like to add: ‘Good job! -- Lynne TrussThe ocean that divides England and America is awash with linguistic wreckage and cultural tumult. But Erin Moore’s study of these infested waters is serene, assured and hugely entertaining. They should hand her book out at border control * Simon Garfield, author of Just My Type *As an American expatriate and book editor who lives in London, Moore is in an ideal position to see the truth to the longstanding joke that British English and American English are different languages. In this witty book, Moore delves into specific linguistic differences, unpacking what they say about our respective cultures. Moore manages to create a text that is eminently readable, clever (in the sincerely-intended American sense) and thought-provoking, gently breaking down some of the cultural stereotyping that plagues both Americans and British. The end result is something readers can readily share with friends on both sides of the ocean. * Publishers Weekly *clever, witty and thoroughly engaging * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisA weird and wonderful word and its meaning for every day of the year.Who knew that to dringle is to 'waste time in a lazy lingering manner'? Or that a sudden happy ending could be termed a eucotastrophe? Looking for an alternative word to 'bullshit'? Then try taradiddle.A Word for Every Day of the Year is a fascinating collection of 366 words and their definitions, perfect for anyone who loves the richness of the English language, its diversity and wants to expand their vocabulary. Each day offers a rare and remarkable word with its history and definition and occasionally a challenge to include it in our lives.Trade Reviewa lexicological delight -- Professor David Crystal

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Book SynopsisThe International Bestseller - Featured on BBC Radio 4 Love it or hate it, the exclamation mark has been with us from Beowulf to the spam email - an enthusiastic history for language lovers! Few punctuation marks elicit quite as much love or hate as the exclamation mark. It's bubbly and exuberant, an emotional amplifier whose flamboyantly dramatic gesture lets the reader know: here be feelings! Scott Fitzgerald famously stated exclamation marks are like laughing at your own joke; Terry Pratchett had a character say that multiple !!! are a 'sure sign of a diseased mind'. So what's the deal with ! ? An Admirable Point recuperates the exclamation mark from its much maligned place at the bottom of the punctuation hierarchy. It explores how ! came about in the first place some six hundred years ago, and uncovers the many ways in which ! has left its mark on art, literature, (pop) culture, and just about any sphere of human activity - from Beowulf to spam emails, ee cummings to neuroscience. Whether you think it's over-used, or enthusiastically sprinkle your writing with it, ! is inescapable.Trade ReviewEnjoyably mischievous ... an invitation to shrug off the prescriptions of the language police and reawaken a sense of wonder * Times Literary Supplement *Fascinating ... carries a punch * The Week *In 150-odd pages, Hazrat examines the [exclamation] mark's origins in the Middle Ages, its journeys in and out of literary fashion, its use in Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Gerard Manley Hopkins, its career in advertising and comics and its apotheosis in the social media age with Donald Trump's screamer showers on Twitter * The Times *Accessibly written, with an academic flavour, and will attract nervous punctuators ... [Hazrat]is firmly on the side of the !, preferring language's "contradictory carnival of meaning" and "joyful jungle" to the "vitriol against exclamation marks [that] abounds in grammars and style guides". As an historian of punctuation, Hazrat must have read many inflexible guides. Who can blame her for loving the liberated !? * Fortean Times *

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered where your town or townland name came from? Do you want to know more about an Irish locality? Well if so this is the book for you.Featuring a comprehensive breakdown of the all available place names in their anglicised form and broken down into their relevant word or words this work by Tom Burnell will become the standard text for all those searching for authentic place-name information.In it the challenges of conflicting interpretations are tackled impartially and missing letters explored. It is an invaluable tool for researchers, amateur historians, the merely curious and general readers.

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Book Synopsis'Marvellously clear... playfully persuasive' Richard Dawkins'Full of Fascinating details. A delight to read.' Tim Harford'Highly original and convincing ... a delight to read!' - Daniel EverettWhat is language?Why do we have it?Why does that matter?Language is perhaps humanity's most astonishing accomplishment and one that remains poorly understood.Upending centuries of scholarship (including, most recently, Chomsky and Pinker) The Language Game shows how people learn to talk not by acquiring fixed meanings and rules, but by picking up, reusing, and recombining countless linguistic fragments in novel ways.Drawing on entertaining and persuasive examples from across the world the book explains:· How our short-lived memory copes with the on-rushing deluge of sound that is everyday speech.· Why it is that language is such a challenge for language scientists but learnt effortlessly by toddlers.· Why the languages of the world are so spectacularly varied---and why no two people speak quite the same language.· Why humans have language, but chimps don't.· How language gave us a big brain and changed the course of evolution.· How language doesn't limit, but does shape, how we think.·And ultimately, why all we know about language should give us hope.Christiansen and Chater's The Language Game draws on a fascinating range of examples to show the way language works, has shaped our evolution and is critical to our future.

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Book SynopsisEver been stuck for a phrase that sums up exactly how you feel? These hilarious foreign expressions have got you covered in every scenario!From when you''re shitting and walking (estou cagando e andando - you couldn''t care less), to times you''re omitting smoke from every orifice (???? [qiqiàoshengyan] - you''re really angry), there are certain situations that English words just can''t describe. This little book is complete with the weird and wonderful foreign phrases you need to express yourself fully.With a variety of sayings from around the world, this entertaining compilation will equip you to insult your friends, proclaim your feelings and speak your mind in new and creative ways.Discover expressions like:- Att glida in pa en rakmacka (Swedish): To slide in on a shrimp sandwich - When someone has had everything easy in life- Tomaten auf den augen haben (German): You have tomatoes on your eyes - You''re not seeing what everyone else sees- Sauter du coq a l''ane (French): To jump from the rooster to the donkey - To illogically jump between conversation topicsAnd many more!

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Book SynopsisWe’re all familiar with ‘a flock of sheep’ but what are the collective nouns for racehorses, pigs, zebras or giraffes? Drawing on a range of sources, from fifteenth-century hunting terms to more recent inventions that have now entered the language, this book collects over 100 examples of the most interesting collective nouns for animals, each illustrated with charming woodcuts by the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century, Thomas Bewick. Some describe a key characteristic of the animal in question: ‘a shrewdness of apes’, ‘a busyness of ferrets’. Others are delightfully humorous: ‘a piddle of puppies’, ‘a crash of rhinoceroses’. Featuring pets, farmyard animals, big cats and wild beasts, this beautifully presented book is the perfect gift for animal lovers and all those with an interest in this quirky linguistic tradition.

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Book SynopsisThe expansion of the English state in the early modern era provoked resistance throughout Britain and Ireland, not least in Cornwall where this intrusion was challenged in a series of dramatic uprisings in the two centuries between 1490 and 1690.In this wide-ranging collection of chapters, several based on articles published previously in the series Cornish Studies, Philip Payton brings together an impressive team of international scholars, including Paul Cockerham, Bernard Deacon, D.H. Frost, Lynette Olson, Joanna Mattingly, Matthew Spriggs, and Mark Stoyle, to present a history of early modern Cornwall, focusing especially on the related issues of language, religion, identity and rebellion. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47788/LZGH4973Table of ContentsCornwall in the Age of Rebellion Philip Payton Where Cornish was Spoken and When? A Provisional Synthesis Matthew Spriggs ‘a . . . concealed envy against the English’: A Note on the aftermath of the 1497 Rebellions in Cornwall Philip Payton Tyranny in Beunans Meriasek Lynette Olson The Helston Shoemakers’ Gild and a Possible Connection with the 1549 Rebellion Joanna Mattingly Glasney’s Parish Clergy and the Tregear Manuscript D.H. Frost ‘On My Grave a Marble Stone’: Early Cornish Memorialization Paul Cockerham ‘Sir Richard Grenville’s Creatures’: The New Cornish Tertia. 1644–46 Mark Stoyle Afterlife of an Army: The Old Cornish Regiments, 1643–44 Mark Stoyle William Scawen (1600–1689) – A Neglected Cornish Patriot and Father of the Cornish Language Revival Matthew Spriggs Who was the Duchesse of Cornwall in Nicholas Boson’s (c.1660–70) ‘The Duchesse of Cornwall’s Progresse to see the Land’s End . . .? Matthew Spriggs The Recent Historiography of Early Modern Cornwall Mark Stoyle Propaganda and the Tudor State or Propaganda of the Tudor Historians Bernard Deacon Conclusion Philip Payton

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Book SynopsisDundonians have a defining, distinctive way of expressing themselves and communicating feelings. The ancient city’s characteristic accent can be heard in any Lochee bar or Hilltoon playground, or on any bus – where Dundee grannies have extraordinary ‘Eh?’ ‘Eh!’ nodding conversations. And to the trained ear they make perfect sense!Trade Review.Table of ContentsIntroduction Insults Dundeh Vehlence Comings and Goings Wise Words Weather Familiar Questions Domestic bliss Dundee life Booze Food A peh’s a peh fur a’ that, ispaishully in Dundeh Medical emergencies Money Love Sport and Leisure Complaints Expressions

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Book SynopsisThis textbook approaches the history of English from a theoretical perspective. The book provides a brief chronological overview describing the way in which the English language has changed over time from Old English to Modern English, while subsequent parts adopt a theoretical focus that is thematically organised to deal with the question of how and why English changed in the way it did, including a part addressing some specific contact-induced changes and key topics such as English as a Lingua Franca. Supported throughout with information boxes with empirical studies, the examples given are all drawn from English, but boxes with examples from other languages tie the development of the English language into changes in other contexts and settings. This book is an ideal resource for undergraduate students of the English Language and historical linguistics. Table of ContentsPart I Introduction.- So what had happened was….- Explaining language change.- Part II Sound change.- Phonetic change.- Phonological change.- Track changes.- Part III Contact-induced change.- Language contact.- Dialect contact.- Part IV Structural change.- Analogy.- Grammaticalisation.- Syntactic change.- The loss of case.

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Book SynopsisRoutledge English Language Introductions cover core areas of language study and are one-stop resources for students. Assuming no prior knowledge, books in the series offer an accessible overview of the subject, with activities, study questions, sample analyses, and commentaries.Global Englishes, Fourth Edition has been fully revised and updated and provides an introduction to the subject that is both accessible and comprehensive.Key features of this best-selling textbook include:â coverage of the major historical, linguistic, and sociopolitical developments in the English language from the start of the seventeenth century to the present day;â exploration of the current debates in Global Englishes, relating to its uses as a post-colonial language in Asia and Africa, a mother tongue in the US, UK, and Antipodes, and lingua franca across the globe, with a strong emphasis on China;â new material on Latin America, English as a lingua franca, and English medium instruction;â a range of texts, data, and examples drawn from emails, tweets, and newspapers;â readings from key scholars including Alastair Pennycook, Henry Widdowson, and Lesley Milroy;â updated online support material providing additional materials that are closely linked to each unit of the book.Global Englishes, Fourth Edition provides a dynamic and engaging introduction to this fascinating topic and is essential reading for all students studying global Englishes more broadly, English as a Lingua Franca specifically, and the factors involved in the spread of English in the world today.

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Book SynopsisA much-cited and highly influential text by Alastair Pennycook, one of the world authorities in sociolinguistics, The Cultural Politics of English as an International Language explores the globalization of English by examining its colonial origins, its connections to linguistics and applied linguistics, and its relationships to the global spread of teaching practices. Nine chapters cover a wide range of key topics including: international politics colonial history critical pedagogy postcolonial literature. The book provides a critical understanding of the concept of the worldliness of English', or the idea that English can never be removed from the social, cultural, economic or political contexts in which it is used. Reissued with a substantial preface, this Routledge Linguistics Classic remains a landmark text, which led a much-needed critical and ideologically-informed investigatiTable of ContentsPreface Author's acknowledgementsPublishers' acknowledgements1. The world in English2. Discourse and dependency in a shifting world3. English and colonialism: origins of a discourse4. Spreading the word/disciplining the language5. ELT from development aid to global commodity6. The worldliness of English in Malaysia7. The worldliness of English in Singapore8. Writing back: the appropriation of English9. Towards a critical pedagogy for teaching English as a worldly languageReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisA thoughtful and deeply personal book by a master theatre-maker. In Tip of the Tongue, Peter Brook takes a charming, playful and wise look at topics such as the subtle, telling differences between French and English, and the many levels on which we can appreciate the works of Shakespeare. Brook also revisits his seminal concept of the 'empty space', considering how theatre – and the world – have changed over the span of his long and distinguished career. Threaded throughout with intimate and revealing stories from Brook's own life, Tip of the Tongue is a short but sparkling gift from one of the greatest artists of recent times.Trade Review'Engaging and thought-provoking… Brook is constantly enthralled but never daunted by contemplation of the art he serves, as this short work shows with grace and eloquence' * Shakespeare Survey *'A gem… like sitting down with Brook after a meal… this simple and accessible book contains insights and lessons from someone who has lived and breathed theatre for over seventy years' * Drama Magazine *'Full of aphoristic wisdom' * Guardian *'Short, sweet and brimming with wise saws and modern instances' * The Stage *'Peter Brook's exploration of words, theatre and everything attached is loving and heartfelt, taking his readers on a journey through his experiences and giving meaning to what he's seen and done' * Broadway World *'Filled with wisdom… devotees will be enchanted by the great director’s latest ruminations on language and the theatre' * British Theatre Guide *

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year"

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Book SynopsisA delightful, erudite, and immersive exploration of the crossword puzzle and its fascinating history from a brilliant young writer.Trade ReviewWho 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 LanguageThinking Inside the Box 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. This book is a delight. -- Bianca Bosker, bestselling author of Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for TasteIf you remember precisely where you were when you first encountered the words ETUI and ONER, I suspect you'll be enchanted by Adrienne Raphel's Thinking Inside the Box. This delightfully engrossing, charmingly and enthusiastically well-written history of the crossword puzzle tells you everything you need to know, and any number of things you couldn't have imagined, about the invention and eventual world domination of the thing that daily scratches a particular human itch: "the yearning to solve a riddle, the desire to fill in a blank space, the obsession with perfection". -- Benjamin Dreyer, bestselling author of Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and StyleThinking Inside the Box, like the puzzles it elegantly features, is full of treasures, surprises and fun. Adrienne takes readers from Will Shortz's empire hub in Pleasantville, NY, to the pages of Vladimir Nabokov's crossword butterfly puzzle doodles, to the blistering hotel ballrooms of crossword competitions, richly bringing to life the quirky, obsessive, fascinating characters in the crossword world. You'll never think about filling in the squares the same way again.' -- Mary Pilon, bestselling author of The Monopolists: Obsession, Fury, and the Scandal Behind the World’s Favorite Board Game and The Kevin Show: An Olympic Athlete’s Battle with Mental IllnessFor crossword puzzlers of every ilk, from solvers of the Monday-edition no-brainer to pencil-chewing addicts of the cryptic, Thinking Inside the Box is a gold mine of revelations. If there is a pantheon of cruciverbalist scholars, Adrienne Raphel has established herself squarely within it. -- Mary Norris, author of Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen

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Book SynopsisSuccessful 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.Trade ReviewEvery 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 *... 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 ListenerRalph 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 *Ralph 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 *If 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 *The 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 & Paragraphs for Every Situation *Table of Contents1. 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

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Book SynopsisMaybe 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.Trade ReviewIn 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 *Okrent'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 *...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 *I 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 *Arika 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 *Don'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 *Arika 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 *[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 *Table of ContentsWhat 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

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Book SynopsisWho 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.Trade ReviewWhat 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 *An absorbing read * The Good Book Guide *an attractive and digestible book * Shropshire Star, Toby Neal *An original idea, enjoyably realised, this is an entertaining, handsomely illustrated guide * Independent, Christopher Hirst *sparkling new book * The Press (York) *Table of Contents1. 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

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Book Synopsis''The greatest enterprise of its kind in history,'' was the verdict of British prime minister Stanley Baldwin in June 1928 when The Oxford English Dictionary was finally published. With its 15,490 pages and nearly two million quotations, it was indeed a monumental achievement, gleaned from the efforts of hundreds of ordinary and extraordinary people who made it their mission to catalogue the English language in its entirety.In The Meaning of Everything, Simon Winchester celebrates this remarkable feat, and the fascinating characters who played such a vital part in its execution, from the colourful Frederick Furnivall, cheerful promoter of an all-female sculling crew, to James Murray, self-educated son of a draper, who spent half a century guiding the project towards fruition. Along the way we learn which dictionary editor became the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame''s Ratty in The Wind in the Willows, and why Tolkien found it so hard to define ''walrus''. Written by the bestselling author of The Surgeon of Crowthorne and The Map That Changed the World, The Meaning of Everything is an enthralling account of the creation of the world''s greatest dictionary.Trade Reviewteeming with knowledge and alive with insights. Winchester handles humor and awe with modesty and cunning. His prose is supremely readable. * New York Times Book Review *exuberant, serious, funny, short, full, entrancingly readable * Jane Gardam, Spectator *compelling reading. Winchester is excellent on the theory and practice of lexicography * Sunday Times *Irresistible * The Independent *Simon Winchester's book is a fascinating catalogue of political wrangles, logistical conundrums and personal battles that underlay the work's creation. This book is a delightful curiosity * Zoe Green, Daily Telegraph *Simon Winchester has told this story with a touch of human drama and with a true sense of the social history that surrounded the enterprise. * Stephen Wade, Contemporary Review *A lively and largely informative chronicle of a still-staggering enterprise * Helen Zaltzman, Observer *A must for language lovers. * The Lady *Table of ContentsFOREWORD; PROLOGUE; EPILOGUE: AND ALWAYS BEGINNING AGAIN; BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING; INDEX

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Book SynopsisWhere 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.Trade Reviewif 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 *Horobin's often humorous and always enthusiastic work will entertain readers by revealing the dynamic nature of language. * Publishers Weekly *For 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 *Fans of language and of pursuing trivia will find a goldmine of the unusual, surprising, and always fascinating history of everyday words. * Mark Knoblauch, Booklist *All in all, an interesting and entertaining way to motivate students to explore language through etymology. * Maurice Cassidy, Training, Language & Culture *Anyone with a passion for language or a burning desire to learn more trivia should check out Bagels, Bumf, and Buses. * Valentina Palladino, ars Technica *A 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 *A 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 *Table of ContentsStarting 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

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Book SynopsisThis 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.Table of ContentsPreliminaries 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

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Book SynopsisHow 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.Table of Contents1. 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

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Book SynopsisThe Oxford Companion to the English Language provides an authoritative single-volume source of information about the English language. It is intended both for reference and for browsing. The first edition of this landmark Companion, published in 1998, adopted a strong international perspective, covering topics from Cockney to Creole, Aboriginal English to Caribbean English and a historical range from Chaucer to Chomsky, Latin to the World Wide Web. It succinctly described and discussed the English language at the end of the twentieth century, including its distribution and varieties, its cultural, political, and educational impact worldwide, its nature, origins, and prospects, and its pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, word-formation, and usage.This new edition notably focuses on World Englishes, English language teaching, English as an international language, and the effect of technological advances on the English language. More than 130 new entries include African American English, British Sign Language, China English, digital literacy, multimodality, social networking, superdiversity, and text messaging, among many others. It also includes new biographical entries on key individuals who have had an impact on the English language in recent decades, including Beryl (Sue) Atkins, Adam Kilgariff, and John Sinclair.It is an invaluable reference for English Language students, and fascinating reading for any general reader with an interest in language.Trade Reviewthis is a fascinating reference tool, of value not only to professional linguists, but also to anyone with an interest in the English language and, at £12.99 for more than 700 pages, a bargain. * Professor T.D. Wilson, Information Research *Table of ContentsIntroductionContributors and consultantsAbbreviationsPhonetic symbolsOxford Companion to the English LanguageBibliography

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Book SynopsisEnglish Grammar: The Basics offers a clear, non-jargonistic introduction to English grammar and its place in society. Rather than taking a prescriptive approach, this book helps the reader become aware of the social implications of choices they make to use standard or non-standard (regional/dialect) forms. Readers will consider:â what grammar is and how it fits into the structure of language;â how grammar functions in the school curriculum, the press, broadcasting and social media, as well as how these outlets reflect and reinforce our attitudes towards grammar;â differences between speech and writing, as well as between formality and informality;â major different approaches to theorising and describing grammar from important grammarians, including Noam Chomsky and Michael Halliday. Featuring a glossary of key terms and practical tips and insights from the author's 50+ years of language teaching experience around the world, this book is for Table of Contents1 Everyone knows what grammar is … don’t they?2 From words to sentences3 The Grammar Toolbox4 The Grammar Toolbox Continued5 Theories and thinkers6 Word of mouth: Grammar in action7 Grammar policy, grammar politics and grammar police8 Grammar in the public eyeGlossary of grammar termsReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisAnalysing Sentences is an accessible and student-friendly introduction to the practical analysis of English sentence structure.The book covers key concepts such as constituency, category and functions, and uses tree diagrams throughout to help the reader visualise the structure of sentences. The fifth edition of this best-selling textbook has been thoroughly updated and revised to feature new material, new example sentences and a more reader-friendly layout. The final chapter sets the analysis in its theoretical context and includes an introduction to constituency in X-bar syntax. The book is also supported by an updated companion website featuring extra exercises for students and a complete set of answers for instructors for the online activities and exercises in the book.Accessible and clear, this book is the perfect textbook for readers coming to this topic for the first time. Featuring many in-text and end-of-chapter exercises, it is suitable for self-directTable of ContentsPreface to the fifth edition Preface to the fourth edition Preface to the third edition Preface to the second edition Preface to the first edition Introduction 1 Sentence Structure: Constituents 2 Sentence Structure: Functions 3 Sentence Structure: Categories 4 The basic Verb Phrase 5 Adverbials and Other Matters 6 More on verbs: auxiliary VPs 7 The structure of Noun Phrases 8 Sentences within Sentences 9 Wh-Clauses 10 Non-finite Clauses 11 Languages, Sentences, and Grammars Index

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Book SynopsisBased on policy analysis and empirical data, this book examines the problematic consequences of colonial legacies of language policies and English language education in the multilingual contexts of the Global South.Using a postcolonial lens, the volume explores the raciolinguistics of language hierarchies that results in students from low-income backgrounds losing their mother tongues without acquiring academic fluency in English. Using findings from five major research projects, the book analyzes the specific context of India, where ambiguous language policies have led to uneasy tensions between the colonial language of English, national and state languages, and students' linguistic diversity is mistaken for cognitive deficits when English is the medium of instruction in schools. The authors situate their own professional and personal experiences in their efforts at dismantling postcolonial structures through reflective practice as teacher educators, and present solutions ofTrade Review'This exquisitely complex book is invaluable for those of us seeking deeper understandings of the role played by English in magnifying economic inequalities globally. Building on wisdom drawn from their own life experiences with linguicide, transnationalism, and English-as-medium-of-education policies, these four authors render skilful analyses that shed light on the complicated dilemmas surrounding language-in-education policy. Offering insightful understandings widely applicable beyond the contemporary Indian context, the book provides supportive and constructive guidance for enacting critical resistance in the context of a range of often-neoliberal language policy reforms.'Suhanthie Motha, Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics/TESOL, English Department, University of Washington, USA'This book provides critical insights into processes of globalization and multilingual education from the perspective of the less privileged. Embodied by the personal experiences of four scholars from different regions and language groups, and richly situated in classrooms and communities in India, the book portrays dysfunctional outcomes. Educational policies motivated by the global pressures of economic progress and national goals of development hamper proficiencies in both heritage languages and English. We leave persuaded that a pedagogy that honestly addresses economic disparities, critiques ongoing colonial designs, and values heritage languages and epistemologies is more beneficial for the Global South.'Professor Suresh Canagarajah, Pennsylvania State University, USA. 'This book makes a significant contribution to bringing together post-colonial scholarship on the politics and practices of language policies and language education. It draws on rich lived experiences of the diverse language identities of the authors. This richness is evident throughout the text as the authors engage in a nuanced manner with a complex intellectual terrain on language politics, whilst drawing on research evidence from the field. The arguments presented in the book also problematise the construction of disability and the labelling of learning disability especially in schooling contexts, such as those in India. The book raises important points in relation to how ‘disability’ labels are uncritically adopted in settings such as many English medium schools which provide access to first generation learners and largely non-English speakers from low-income background.'Nidhi Singal, Professor of Disability and Inclusive Education, University of Cambridge, UK'This provocative book will change how you think about language teaching and learning. In The Politics of English Language Education and Social Inequality, Kalyanpur, Boruah, Molina, and Shenoy offer an incisive analysis of how English language education operates as a colonizing presence. With a focus on a multilingual nation that has a complex relationship with English—India—the authors brilliantly weave personal experiences with research data and theory in order to illuminate reverberations of language policy, language teaching, and the language experiences of children across dimensions that range from identity to national policy to global domination.'Christine Sleeter, Professor Emerita, School of Professional Studies, California State University-Monterey Bay, USA'This book, authored by four Indian women, is unlike any other. It is written from the heart and from the women’s own life experiences and academic research. Theory about the role of English education in colonialism and globalization, as well as its relationship to poverty, flow here from the local Indian context, as the authors reflect jointly and foreground their own positionality. The book is an example of decolonial resistance not only to traditional English language education, but also to academic treatises that do not reveal the authors’ selves.'Ofelia García, Professor Emerita, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, USATable of ContentsAbout the AuthorsList of figures and tablesList of abbreviationsAcknowledgementsPrologue: Our language storiesPART I: The global context for language policy1 Introducing a postcolonial perspective on language educationA colonial/postcolonial frameworkLanguage as a tool of oppression in globalizationThe diminishment of non-world languagesSocio-economic barriers to acquisition of the English LanguageThe structure of the book2 Language, linguicide and equity: Navigating the tension between heritage, national and colonial agendasLanguage vitality, status, and terminologyNational language policies in Pakistan and Bangladesh: Issues of linguistic equityThe Chinese language diaspora in East AsiaLanguage challenges in Taiwan and Hong KongLinguicide or the integration of heritage language education?Part II: The politics and practice of India’s language education policy3. Language contestations and the illusions around English in India’s Three Language Formula English in education: From constitutional provisions to policyEnglish as deliverance, English as Indian: Competing social and educational goalsPedagogic models of English Language Teaching: Ground realities and social disadvantageRepositioning English: Empowerment agendas and multiliteracy frameworksConclusion4. English language teachers and teacher education: Challenging normative linguistic positionings The impact of national education policies on language teacher educationMoving beyond the colonial legacy: Alternative pedagogy and curricular models of language educationTeachers’ pedagogy, invisibility, voice and agencyRestructuring English language teacher education: New initiativesConclusion5. English medium private schools: Teaching bilingual and multilingual students in the context of inequalityLanguage teaching in Karnataka private schools: Linguistic and cultural contextsLanguage of instruction: Helping those who struggleEnglish language teaching in classroom contexts Conclusion6. L2 English language acquisition: Dyslexia and learning inequalities in private schoolsDyslexia: the language difference vs learning disorder debateDyslexia and English literary acquisition in the Indian school contextLearning disabilities, dyslexia and disadvantageThe implications for disadvantaged learners in English medium private schoolsConclusionPart III: Decolonizing language education and challenging disadvantage 7. English language education and the case against neutralityLanguage and globalization: Hybridity, neutrality, and the danger of complicityRace and power: The persistence of racio-linguistic ideologiesConsidering postcolonial approaches in the English language classroomReimagining a possible future of English language education8. Challenging disadvantage through language education policy and practice: New postcolonial directionsThe complexities and challenges of language education policies and practices Engaging in decolonial resistance and critical pedagogyThe reflective practitioner: Rethinking our professional selves ConclusionGlossaryIndex

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Book SynopsisRoutledge A Level English Guides equip AS and A2 Level students with the skills they need to explore, evaluate and enjoy English.Books in the series are built around the various skills specified in the assessment objectives (AOs) for all AS and A2 Level English courses. Focusing on the AOs most relevant to their topic, the books help students to develop their knowledge and abilities through analysis of lively texts and contemporary data. Each book in the series covers a different area of language and literary study, and offers accessible explanations, examples, exercises, a glossary of key terms, and suggested answers.Language and Social Contexts: considers language within the social contexts in which it is used and understood covers the key skills and topics, including social contexts, transcripts and the contexts of speech, language and age, language and gender, and regional talk analyzes a wide variety of spoken and written texTrade Review'For teachers of English language [this book] is a must ... It is a very reassuring text and the activities work well.' - EnglishDramaMedia Table of ContentsPreface Assessment objectives 1. Social Contexts and Conventions 2. Transcripts and the Contexts of Speech 3. Representation Research Statement 4. Power 5. Identity: Gender 6.Identity: Regional Talk Further Reading Glossary Suggestions for Answers

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Book SynopsisHow do we find the right word for the job? Where does that word come from? Why do we spell it like that? And how do we know what it means?Words are all around us - we use them every day to communicate our joys, fears, hopes, opinions, wishes and demands - but we don''t often think about them too deeply. In this highly accessible introduction to English words, the reader will discover what the study of words can tell them about the extraordinary richness and complexity of our daily vocabulary and about the nature of language in general.Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, the book covers a wide range of topics, including the structure of words, the meaning of words, how their spelling relates to pronunciation, how new words are manufactured or imported from other languages, and how the meaning of words changes with the passage of time. It also investigates how the mind deals with words by highlighting the amazing intellectual feat performed routinely when the right word iTrade Review' ... overall English Words is an excellent introduction to a fascinating topic that goes beyond the traditional focus on morphology and draws upon work in many different fields within linguistics. It is an outstanding example of how different fields within linguistics can all contribute to a fuller understanding of an ultimately quite complex topic such as words. In doing so it can inspire others to try and emulate this kind of comprehensive approach to words in other languages.' - Linguist List ‘English Words is presented as a stimulating introduction to the world of words, and there can be no doubt that Katamba is very successful in terms of first generating and then keeping the reader’s interest in this topic throughout the book.’ - Michael Haugh, School of Languages and Linguistics, Griffith UniversityTable of ContentsPreface to the first edition. Preface to the second edition. Abbreviations. Key to symbols used. Section I: The nature and internal structure of words 1. Introduction 1.1 Why study words? 1.2 Overview of coming chapters 2. What is a word? 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Words are like liquorice allsorts 2.2.1 Word-forms 2.2.2 Words as vocabulary items 2.2.3 Grammatical words 2.3 Summary Exercises. 3. Close encounters of a morphemic kind 3.1 The quest for verbal atoms 3.2 Close morphological encounters: zooming in on morphemes 3.3 Morphemes and their disguises 3.3.1 Allomorphs: morph families 3.3.2 Contrast 3.3.3 The right mask 3.3.3.1 Phonologically conditioned allomorphs 3.3.3.2. Phonology in the back seat: lexical and grammatical conditioning 3.3.3.3 Madness without method: suppletion 3.4 Freedom and bondage 3.5 Sound symbolism: phonaesthemes and onomatopoeia 3.7 Summary Exercises. 4. Building words 4.1 Words and jigsaws 4.2 Know the pieces of the jigsaw 4.2.1 Roots are the core 4.2.2 Affixes are for appending 4.3 The main types of word-building: inflection and derivation 4.4 Derivation: fabricating words 4.4.1 Affixation: prefixes and suffixes 4.4.2 Conversion 4.4.3 Compound parade 4.4.4 Wishy-washy and razzle-dazzle words 4.5 Listing and institutionalisation 4.6 Keeping tabs on idioms 4.7 Clitics Exercises. Section 2: Words in a wider context 5. A lexicon with layers 5.1 The nature of the lexicon 5.2 Morphological information in the lexicon 5.3 Syntactic information in the lexicon 5.4 Does it ring true? (phonological information) 5.5 Rendezvous with lexical phonology and morphology 5.5.1 Neutral and non-neutral affixes 5.5.2 The lexicon is like a layered cake 5.6 Productivity, the time-warp and cranberries 5.7 Peeping beyond the lexicon 5.8 Base driven stratification 5.9 Summary Exercises. 6. Word meaning 6.1 Introducing meaning 6.2 Word-meaning 6.3 Sense and componential analysis 6.4 Semantic relations 6.4.1 Hyponymy 6.4.2 Synonymy 6.4.3 Antonymy 6.4.4 Homophones and homonyms 6.4.5 Polysemy 6.5 Semantic fields 6.6 Semantic prototypes : the birdiness rankings 6.7 Beyond the lexicon 6.8 Summary Exercises. Section 3: A changing expanding lexicon 7. A lexical mosaic: sources of English vocabulary 7.1 The nature of borrowing 7.1.1 Direct and indirect borrowing 7.1.2 Loanwords and loanshifts 7.1.3 Likely loans 7.1.4 Why borrow? 7.1.5 The grass is ever greener on the other side 7.1.6 Nativisation of loanwords 7.1.7 Effects of borrowing 7.2 Scandinavian loanwords 7.3 The French influence 7.3.1 The Norman French legacy 7.3.2 French words in modern English 7.4 Words from other modern European languages 7.5 Loanwords from non-European languages 7.6 The Germanic inheritance 7.7 Summary Exercises. 8. Words galore: innovation and change 8.1 A verbal bonanza 8.2 Jargon 8.3 Slang 8.4 Rhyming slang 8.5 Cliches and catch-phrases 8.6 A rose by any other name 8.6.1 Semantic widening 8.6.2 Semantic narrowing 8.6.3 Going up and down in the world 8.6.4 Loss account 8.6.5 Lexical revivals 8.7 Clipping 8.9 Fads and copycat formations 8.10 Back-formation 8.11 Blends 8.12 Geek-speak: internet slang and jargon 8.13 Euphemism 8.14 Summary Exercises. 9. Should English be spelt as she is spoke? 9.1 Writing systems 9.2 Is the English orthography mad? 9.2.1 The apparent madness in the English spelling system 9.2.2 There is a method in the madness: spelling rules and pronunciation 9.2.3 Is a for apple? Why vowel letters pinch like ill-fitting shoes 9.3 Morphological signposts in the spelling 9.4 Lexical signposting in the spelling 9.5 Spelling reform 9.6 Is speech degenerate writing? 9.7 Email and text messaging: imo email & txt r gr8 9.8 Summary Exercises. Section 4: Modelling the mental lexicon 10. Speech recognition 10.1 A mind full of words 10.1.1 Types of lexical information 10.1.2 The organisation of th

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Book SynopsisThe Intertext series has been specifically designed to meet the needs of contemporary English Language Studies. Working with Texts: A Core Introduction to Language Analysis (second edition 2001) is the foundation text, which is complemented by a range of ''satellite'' titles. These provide students with hands-on practical experience of textual analysis through special topics, and can be used individually or in conjunction with Working with Texts.The Language of Websites: explores the ways in which websites use and present language covers many different types of web-based interaction, from buying online and auction sites, to search engines, email links and chatrooms considers the structures of language online, such as audience interaction and how hypertext alters narrative structure features a full glossary. Trade Review'This book is timely, well written and insightful ... [it] would be a satisfying and illuminating read for a wide range of people who are interested in websites, from novice to expert, from creator to user to purchaser- student, linguist, programmer and instructor alike.' - Linguist List'My overall impression of the book is that it truly covers what its title promises. I especially enjoyed the informative examples and the very accessible and engaging exercises which help the reader to apply presented theories in order to find directed answers.' - The European English MessengerTable of ContentsIntroduction: Background To Language And The Web. What the Book is Not. Human Communication. Unit 1 Getting Really Wired. The Physical Context Of Websites. A Terrible Beauty is Born. How Personal Computers Began. Everything Within. The Origins of the Web. The March of Time. Developments in Web Design. Unit 2 Front Of House. Institutional Websites. Virtually There. Websites as Metaphorical Buildings. Basic Burger - Nothing on it. Developments in Web Graphics. Marking Territory. Web Address Names. Mapping Territory. Finding your Way Around. Unit 3 Boundaries. Real And Imagined. Personal Websites. How the Web Defeats Boundaries. Publishing for Everyone. Does the Language of Websites Exist? Doppelgänger: Your Web Personality. Unit 4 Streamers And Flashers. Sound And Video. Content On The Web. The Digital Revolution. It's Alive. Multi-Media Content. Narrative Enforcement. Popup Windows and Spam. Unit 5 Ready Or Not. Searching The Web. Indexes and Catalogues. Computers as Searchers. The Language of Dead Links. Comparing Search Engines. Advanced Searching and Boolean Logic. Unit 6 The Raw Materials of Web Writing. Two Languages of the Web. What you See is Not What you Get. Index of Terms. Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA brilliantly accessible introduction to core topics in English language and linguistics. My students loved it.'David Adger, Queen Mary, University of London, UKEntertaining, clear and informative. David Crystal's lectures demystify and enrich the English language for students of all levels.'Sylvia Shaw, Middlesex University, UKA well-delivered and well-structured bird's-eye introduction to all areas of the study of language. Crystal's discussion of issues like dialect and bilingualism will interest many and hopefully promote a rational and reasoned stance towards language.'Klaus Abels, University College London, UKNow available for the first time to licence for use as a digital resource for your courses, for online learning resources, or for part of a digital course pack. Find out more here: https://www.routledge.com/go/david-crystals-introduction-to-languageDavid Cr

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Book SynopsisEnglish: An Essential Grammar is written specifically for native speakers, beginning with the basics and going on to deal with phrase, clause and sentence structure, word formation and spelling. This fully revised third edition features new material on: the structure of phrases and clauses light verbs nominal adjectives the Operator preposition to and infinitival to the four thats determiners, prepositions, and common errors With new exercises and answers for all new sections, this Essential Grammar continues to be the ideal reference for anyone who would like to improve their knowledge of English grammar.Table of ContentsList of abbreviations. Introduction. Chapter 1: Introducing sentence structure. Chapter 1: Exercises. Chapter 2: Words and word classes. Chapter 2: Exercises. Chapter 3: Phrases. Chapter 3: Exercises. Chapter 4: Clauses and sentences. Chapter 4: Exercises. Chapter 5: Word formation and spelling. Answers to Exercises. Appendix: English irregular verbs. Glossary of terms. Further reading. Index.

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