Language: history and general works Books

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON. 'An informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully.' David Marsh, Guardian. Mark 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.' In 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.Crammed with tricks to make the most humdrum sentiments seem poetic or wise, The Elements of Eloquence reveals how writers through the ages have turned humble words into literary gold - and how you can do the same.Trade ReviewSparkling ... the book offers many pleasures ... I laughed out loud. -- Charles Moore * Daily Telegraph *An informative but highly entertaining journey through the figures of rhetoric ... Mark Forsyth wears his considerable knowledge lightly. He also writes beautifully. -- David Marsh * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Alex's Adventures in Numberland and Can You Solve My Problems? comes a fascinating, hugely entertaining collection of puzzles for crossword addicts and language-lovers of all stripes. 'The only puzzle book I've seen that manages to befuddle both sides of the brain at the same time.'DARA Ó BRIAIN'Such fun, full of unexpected ideas and charmingly written.'TIM HARFORDThe Language Lover's Puzzle Book is a book of more than 100 surprising and entertaining puzzles that celebrate the amazing diversity of the world of words and language.Featuring a huge variety of ancient, modern and even invented languages, this collection of problems will introduce you to unusual alphabets and scripts, curious vocabularies and phonologies, and global variations in simple behaviours like counting, telling the time, and naming children.Whether you are a crossword solver, a code-breaker or a Scrabble addict, these puzzles are guaranteed to twist your tongue and sharpen your mind.'Alex Bellos is a dazzling polymath whose cleverness and ingenuity are on full display in this utterly brilliant and original collection of linguistic puzzles. This book is destined to be a classic for puzzle lovers.'JOSHUA FOER, co-founder of Atlas Obscura and author Moonwalking with Einstein'An irresistible linguistic workout - challenging and deeply satisfying.'GASTON DORREN, author of Lingo and Babel'For all the language and puzzle fans in your life!' GRETCHEN McCULLOCH'A cornucopia of ingenious and insightful challenges.' DAVID CRYSTAL'This compendium of puzzles is a great idea.' MICHAEL ROSEN'You'll love what Alex Bellos has done here.' GYLES BRANDRETH'Tantalisting.' THE ECONOMIST'The perfect way to pass the time.' BBC SCIENCE FOCUS

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Book SynopsisMichael Rosen is one of the best-known figures in the children's book world. He is renowned for his work as a poet, performer, broadcaster and scriptwriter. He visits schools with his one-man show to enthuse children with his passion for books and poetry. In 2007 he was appointed Children's Laureate, a role which he held until 2009. While Laureate, he set up The Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He currently lives in London with his wife and children.

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'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, Independent.'Particularly good ... Forsyth takes words and draws us into their, and our, murky history.' William Leith, Evening Standard.The Etymologicon is an occasionally ribald, frequently witty and unerringly erudite guided tour of the secret labyrinth that lurks beneath the English language.What is the actual connection between disgruntled and gruntled? What links church organs to organised crime, California to the Caliphate, or brackets to codpieces?Mark 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.'Highly recommended' SpectatorTrade Review[Forsyth] riff[s] very entertainingly on the hidden connections of words (from brackets and codpieces, to cappuccinos and monkeys). -- Robert McCrum, The GuardianI'm hooked on Forsyth's book - Crikey, but this is addictive. -- Mathew Parris, The TimesKudos 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 TelegraphThis 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 GuardianThe stocking filler of the season. -- Robert McCrum, The ObserverWitty 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, IndependentThis witty book liberates etymology from the dusty pages of the dictionary and brings it alive. -- Good Book Guide'The Etymologicon' contains fascinating facts -- Daily MailFrom Nazis and film buffs to heckling and humble pie, the obscure origins of commonly-used words and phrases are explained. -- Daily TelegraphA collection of verbal curiosities ... fascinating. -- SpectatorA perfect bit of stocking filler for the bookish member of the family, or just a cracking all-year-round read. Highly recommended. -- SpectatorLight, 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 CleggAn absolute gem ... a pleasure to read. -- Books MonthlyI want this book to be never-ending ... a real winner. -- Books MonthlyIt makes for a very good read ... a perfect Christmas gift for anyone who might be interested in where our words come from. -- A Common ReaderI 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 BookbagMark Forsyth, who blogs as 'The Inky Fool,' is an extreme and hugely entertaining practitioner. -- Financial TimesThe 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

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Book SynopsisAdam Aleksic, known as @etymologynerd online, is a Harvard linguist and online etymologist, specialising in the intersection between language and social media. With almost 2 million followers across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and now Substack, Adam creates content and does his own original research into language and how it's changing. He's lectured at Georgetown, Stanford and UPenn and is a regular contributor to the Washington Post. He currently lives in Mexico City.

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Book SynopsisRediscover the lost words of an ancient land in this new and updated edition of an international bestseller.Most people associate Britain and Ireland with the English language, a vast, sprawling linguistic tree with roots in Latin, French, and German, and branches spanning the world, from Australia and India to North America.But the inhabitants of these islands originally spoke another tongue. Look closely enough and English contains traces of the Celtic soil from which it sprung, found in words like bog, loch, cairn and crag. Today, this heritage can be found nowhere more powerfully than in modern-day Gaelic.In Thirty-Two Words for Field Manchán Magan explores the enchantment, sublime beauty and sheer oddness of a 3000-year-old lexicon. Imbuing the natural world with meaning and magic, it evokes a time-honoured way of life, from its 32 separate words for a field, to terms like loisideach (a place with a lot of kneading troughs), bróis

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Book SynopsisWhy is there an 'h' in ghost? William Caxton, inventor of the printing press and his Flemish employees are to blame: without a dictionary or style guide to hand in fifteenth century Bruges, the typesetters simply spelled it the way it sounded to their foreign ears, and it stuck. Seventy-five per cent of English spelling is regular but twenty-five per cent is complicated, and in Spell It Out our foremost linguistics expert David Crystal extends a helping hand to the confused and curious alike. He unearths the stories behind the rogue words that confound us, and explains why these peculiarities entered the mainstream, in an epic journey taking in sixth century monks, French and Latin upstarts, the Industrial Revolution and the internet. By learning the history and the principles, Crystal shows how the spellings that break all the rules become easier to get right.Trade ReviewEntertaining ... Crystal's many examples show that the development of English spelling is as random, unsystematic and anomalous as the British constitution. English spelling is as rich a mixture of anachronism, privilege and fashion as the House of Lords * Sunday Times *A prolific author ... he can write with authority on trends in the spelling of rhubarb and indeed on the history of the spelling of any tricky word you care to mention. For him, the patterns are clear ... highly entertaining * Observer *A prolific author ... highly entertaining to read * Observer *Spectacular * Readers Digest *This masterly book is a deft guide with a light touch -- Harry Mount * TLS *A spelling book with a difference * Yorkshire Gazette and Herald *Crystal's splendid book, the latest in a long line by this prolific language truffler, proceeds chronologically, deep in learning and characteristically light on its feet. -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail *A Must Read...An entertaining and fascinating study of how English spelling became so wildly inconsistent. * Sunday Times *The chaotic yet enthralling story of British spelling through the ages * Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisAn entertaining collection of strange, delightful and unexpectedly apt words from the origins of English, which illuminates the lives, beliefs and habits of our linguistic ancestors. 'A marvelous book' Neil Gaiman 'Wonderful' - Tom Holland 'A lovely, lovely read' - Lucy Mangan 'Splendid' - David Crystal 'Thorough, entertaining, and absolutely fascinating.' Paul Anthony Jones, Haggard Hawks In this beautiful little book, Hana Videen has gathered gems of words together to create a glorious trove and illuminate the lives, beliefs and habits of our linguistic ancestors. We discover a world where choking on a bit of bread might prove your guilt, where fiend-ship was as likely as friend-ship, and you might grow up to be a laughter-smith. These are the magical roots of our own language: you'll never see English in the same way again.Trade ReviewA wonderful book heaving with linguistic treasure, a joyfully clever exploration of early medieval life. -- Edward Brooke-Hitching author * The Madman's Library *Wonderful -- Tom HollandA lovely, lovely read * Lucy Mangan *Splendid -- David CrystalThorough, entertaining, and absolutely fascinating. -- Paul Anthony Jones * Haggard Hawks *Eminently giftable ... A book to be dipped in and out of for the riddles and enjoyable factoids -- James Marriott * The Times *Splendid ... It is the perfect way to be introduced to Old English. There is insight on every page, in a beautifully clear and down to-earth style, with lovely humorous asides. -- David CrystalA rich meditation on words, a thoughtful cultural history and a delicious box of delights to dip into during stolen moments. I loved this book-and learnt more from it than from any number of solemn language primers. Hana Videen has created a marvel. -- Nicola Griffith, author of 'Hild'A lively linguistic history * BBC History Magazine *Brilliant. So rich with detail. If you're at all interested in Old English you'll love it. -- History Today * Kate Wiles, senior editor *Thorough, entertaining, and absolutely fascinating. If you're interested in Old English (and for that matter, even if you're not!) it's an absolute treat. -- Paul Anthony Jones * Haggard Hawks *A wonderful book that blends linguistics with a survey of everyday life in early Medieval England. If you want to know why music was known as dream-craeft, what was meant by sawel-dreor - 'soul blood' - or the origins of our days of the week, then this is for you. It constitutes a veritable leornung-hus, or 'learning house'' -- Tom Holland * BBC History Magazine *Delightful ... [Videen's] etymological journeys [are] full of satisfying twists ... the book is released in time for Christmas wassailing, and would make a classy gift to the commonly word-drunk ... it's a pleasure just to be reminded of [early Medieval people's] world-craft. -- Steven Poole * Guardian *A treasure trove of forgotten words, their meanings and origins, written with insight and humour, and beautifully designed -- Marshall JuliusWritten in a conversational style that playfully uncovers the meaning of words and their cultural context, [Wordhord] will appeal to all lovers of language and ... serve as an excellent companion to students of Old English literature. Videen unlocks a treasure chest of ancient English ... the result is an accessible, erudite study -- Outstanding Academic Title of the Year * Choice *This book is a treasure trove... [Videen] is a stunning and gifted word detective and writes of her investigations with nimble prose.... At the end [of The Wordhord] you feel the way that you feel when you come to the end of a Sherlock Holmes tale. * Leaf by Leaf *

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Book SynopsisThe book, beautifully illustrated with old woodcuts, explains how and why plants have been named, includes handy lists of identifying adjectives, and takes the reader down some of the stranger byways of human endeavour and eccentricity.

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Book SynopsisLONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION NON-FICTION CROWN A SUNDAY TIMES NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 'Timely ... a long and engrossing survey of the library' FT 'A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched' Richard Ovenden, author of Burning the Books Famed across the known world, jealously guarded by private collectors, built up over centuries, destroyed in a single day, ornamented with gold leaf and frescoes or filled with bean bags and children's drawings - the history of the library is rich, varied and stuffed full of incident. In this, the first major history of its kind, Andrew Pettegree and Arthur der Weduwen explore the contested and dramatic history of the library, from the famous collections of the ancient world to the embattled public resources we cherish today. Along the way, they introduce us to the antiquarians and philanthropists who shaped the world's great collections, trace the rise and fall of fashions and tastes, and reveal the high crimes and misdemeanours committed in pursuit of rare and valuable manuscripts.Trade Review[In] this superb history, filled with fascinating details that will delight every bibliophile, the authors tell the rich and varied history of libraries, from those that aspire to collect the sum of human knowledge to modest but valued personal collections * Guardian *Outstanding ... a history of libraries from the ancient world to yesterday, it is fetchingly produced and scrupulously researched - a perfect gift for bibliophiles everywhere -- Professor John Carey * The Sunday Times *This history of the library, from the Assyrians to the digital age, is itself a wonderful collection of knowledge ... a book full of fascination and ultimately one of optimism, too -- Michael Prodger * New Statesman *This sweeping bookish history has something for everyone ... it is a glorious reminder that books are borderless and boundless and libraries priceless, in all senses -- Lucy Atkins, Best literary non-fiction books 2021 * The Times *Excellent ... rigorous but riveting history -- Dennis Duncan * Spectator *Timely ... a long and engrossing survey of the library that shows how adaptable and creative libraries have been over time * FT *Despite [a] staggering range, the authors manage never to seem in a rush, or to skimp on incidental detail ... holding it all together is a keen eye for stories of individual lives that are representative of something larger ... [a] sweeping history -- James Waddell * Times Literary Supplement *A sweeping, absorbing history, deeply researched, of that extraordinary and enduring phenomenon: the library -- Richard Ovenden, author * Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack *What is a 'library'? Is it a mute display of personal wealth and power, or of a humble devotion to God? A routine community resource, or a waste of taxpayers' money? In The Library, we are led nimbly through the centuries, seeing how it has been all of these things and more, as the authors place on the shelf a cornucopia of bookish history. -- Judith Flanders, author * A Place for Everything: The Curious History of Alphabetical Order *Comprehensive without being miscellaneous, lively without being anecdotal, this sweeping history of libraries shows how central this institution has been to every aspect of human culture. At a time when libraries and librarians are proving themselves to be more important and more resilient than ever before, this whirlwind tour of the different forms that libraries have taken at different times and places will educate and inspire in equal measure. -- Leah Price, founder of the Rutgers Book Initiative at Rutgers University and author, * What We Talk About When We Talk About Books *Magnificently researched and compendious * Tablet *Enthralling ... fittingly, The Library is a handsomely presented and reasonably priced book, with plenty of informative colour plates. The authors' erudition, reflected in a huge bibliography, is carried lightly, and their story is told with wit and wisdom ... A hair-raising journey through the long history of libraries -- Michael Wheeler * Church Times *Libraries have had a long and varied history ... This globetrotting book charts their stories -- Book of the Month * BBC History Revealed *

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Book SynopsisTHE ACCLAIMED NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER. Have you ever puzzled over how to punctuate a text message? Wondered where memes came from? Fret no more: Because Internet is the perfect book for understanding how the internet is changing the English language, why that's a good thing, and what our online interactions reveal about who we are.'McCulloch is such a disarming writer - lucid, friendly, unequivocally excited about her subject - that I began to marvel at the flexibility of the online language she describes, with its numerous shades of subtlety.' New York TimesTrade ReviewBecause Internet…illustrates how many of us feel about English in the online age… It is hard not to be moved by her McCulloch is an engaging writer who clearly adores her subject * Sunday Times *Covers the backstory of how tildes became the punctuation mark for ~whimsy and sarcasm~...and when we started repeating certainnnnn lettersssssssss for emphasis * Buzzfeed *A fascinating analysis * Observer *McCulloch offers a compelling snapshot of a world in flux, from which readers will learn a lot about language, the internet and themselves * Financial Times *In prose at once scholarly and user-friendly, McCulloch unpacks the evolution of language in the digital age, providing a comprehensive survey of everything from the secret language of emojis to the appeal of animal memes. * Esquire *McCulloch is such a disarming writer - lucid, friendly, unequivocally excited about her subject * New York Times *Rather than obsessing about what the internet is doing to language, [Because Internet] largely focuses on what can be learned about language from the internet. . . . McCulloch's book is about the birth of a new medium. * Economist *McCulloch’s book is a good start in guiding readers to consider the wild language of the internet as a thing of wonder—a valuable feature, not a bug. * Wall Street Journal *An effervescent study of how the digital world is transfiguring English * The New Yorker *A compelling narrative rich with examples from her own online activities, a healthy dose of humor, and plenty of cat memes… the breadth of topics covered—from conversation analysis to meme culture to the development of texting as we now know it—makes this book useful, engaging, and enjoyable. * Science *

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Book Synopsis''A tour de force'' Alice Roberts''Wonderful ... A remarkably comprehensive biography of the single most important thing we all share - language'' Robin DunbarThe relationship between language, thought and culture is of concern to anyone with an interest in what it means to be human.The Language Puzzle explains how the invention of words at 1.6 million years ago began the evolution of human language from the ape-like calls of our earliest ancestors to our capabilities of today, with over 6000 languages in the world and each of us knowing over 50,000 words. Drawing on the latest discoveries in archaeology, linguistics, psychology, and genetics, Steven Mithen reconstructs the steps by which language evolved; he explains how it transformed the nature of thought and culture, and how we talked our way out of the Stone Age into the world of farming and swiftly into today''s Digital Age.While this radical new work is not shy to reject outdated ideas about language, it builds bridges between disciplines to forge a new synthesis for the evolution of language that will find widespread acceptance as a new standard account for how humanity began.

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Book SynopsisPolari is a language that was used chiefly by gay men in the first half of the twentieth century. At a time when being gay could result in criminal prosecution – or worse – Polari offered its speakers a degree of public camouflage, a way of expressing humour, and a means of identification and of establishing a community. Its roots are colourful and varied – from Cant to Lingua Franca to prostitutes’ slang – and in the mid-1960s it was thrust into the limelight by the characters Julian and Sandy, voiced by Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams, on the BBC radio show Round the Horne (‘Oh Mr Horne, how bona to vada your dolly old eke!’). Paul Baker recounts the story of Polari with skill, erudition and tenderness. He traces its historical origins and describes its linguistic nuts and bolts, explores the ways and the environments in which it was spoken, explains the reasons for its decline, and tells of its unlikely re-emergence in the twenty-first century. With a cast of drag queens and sailors, Dilly boys and macho clones, Fabulosa! is an essential document of recent history and a fascinating and fantastically readable account of this funny, filthy and ingenious language.Trade Review'One of the most enjoyable books on the subject this year was Paul Baker’s Fabulosa!, an excavation of the now pretty well lost gay language of Polari, richly evocative and entertaining.'- Philip Hensher, The Guardian, 'As a fag-hag of some vintage, I enjoyed this illuminating look at Polari – a language used chiefly by gay men in the first half of the 20th century. There's a fascinating look at it origins, from Cant to lingua franca, and from Italian to Romany; and its usage, from slang spoken by prostitutes to perhaps its most celebrated outing, by characters Julian and Sandy in the classic 1960s radio show "Round the Horne".'- The Bookseller, Editor's Choice, 'Though a language smacking of Carry On films and saucy seaside postcards, it’s the tragic torment and harassment that gave rise to Polari in the first place that must not be forgotten and which is why this book is important.'- Daily Mail, 'Baker’s intriguing and often amusing book is the work of a writer interested in language who has been led by his subject to think about social oppression . . . [he] writes well about the milieux in which Polari flourished – the theatre and the merchant navy. He is especially acute on the political uses of vulgar innuendo . . . And Baker’s interviews radiate warmth and good humour.'- The Spectator, 'Polari, like some admirably resilient weed, will not die . . . It is as much for its vocabulary as for its sociological vagaries that we read Baker’s always illuminating book . . . Fabulosa!'- Jonathon Green, The Telegraph, 'Baker tells the history of Polari with pride, passion and humour, making clear that camp can be “deliciously political”. Fabulosa! is an important celebration of Polari’s message – which is about laughing at your flaws, creating hope from tragedy, and seeing humour in the face of cruelty and oppression.'- London Magazine, 'Baker intersperses his account with snippets of interviews with Polari speakers, whose first-hand recollections are invariably arresting and funny. He is partial to a spot of innuendo himself, and manages to slip one in every now and then . . . [T]here is some evidence that the language persisted into the 1980s and ’90s in theatre circles, and it continues to enjoy a healthy afterlife as a cultural curio – of which this delightful book is just one manifestation.'- Financial Times, '[Baker] is especially strong on the changing attitude towards polari within the gay community in the 70s and 80s, and on the important reclamation performed by the The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. While the subject of Julian and Sandy is well-trodden ground, his approach feels fresh, and the personal interludes add to the narrative without being overly intrusive. Fabulosa! is also an excellent primer for would-be polari speakers.'- MinorLiteratures.com, 'Brilliant, readable nonfiction is out there too . . . for those who want to be in the know, Fabulosa! The Story of Polari, Britain’s Secret Gay Language by Paul Baker is a compelling history of the linguistic lengths to which gay people had to go to hide in plain sight within an aggressively homophobic culture.'- Observer Summer Reading chosen by David Bloomfield of Golden Hare Books, 'For anyone interested in finding out more about Polari, Fabulosa! provides a thought-provoking, in-depth look at how the language came about and fell in – and out – of favour with the gay community.'- Press Association Reviews, 'Fabulosa! is important, informative and engaging. A multifaceted foray into the roots, uses and contexts of Polari is hardly something you see published very day . . . it makes for informative and entertaining reading.'- Medium.com, 'A funny and joyous insight into the story of Polari . . . Fabulosa! Is a fascinating and fantastically readable account of this funny, filthy and ingenious language . . . This is an essential book for anyone who wants to Polari bona!'- Attitude, 'For anyone interested in finding out more about Polari – Britain's "secret gay language", Fabulosa! Provides a thought-provoking look at how the language came about and fell in and out of favour with the gay community from the days when homosexuality was illegal . . . Paul Baker details how Polari was based on a mixture of sources, including the common sailors' language of lingua franca and thieves' cant.'- i newspaper

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Book Synopsis''More than 300 million people in the world speak English and the rest, it sometimes seems, try to...''Only 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. Bill Bryson''s classic Mother Tongue is a highly readable and hilarious tale of how English came to be the world''s language.Trade ReviewNot only fascinating but extremely funny -- Angus DeaytonThe sort of linguistics I like, anecdotal, full of revelations, and with not one dull paragraph -- Ruth Rendell * Sunday Times *A gold mine of language-anecdote, information, curiosity. A suprise on every page... enthralling * Observer *Delightful, amusing and provoking... A joyful celebration of our wonderful language, which is packed with curiosities and enlightenment on every page * Sunday Express *A delightful survey - though with its good humour, wealth of anecdote, and boyish enthusiasm, "romp" would be a better word. -- David Crystal

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Book SynopsisA celebration of all the weird and wonderful books to be found at an antiquarian bookshop.Books have the power to enrich the soul, to enliven the senses, to expand our horizons and others are simply mad. This wonderful celebration of the oddest books ever published is a treat for all bibliophiles, booksellers and fans of the bizarre. It is an exploration of the most eccentric titles and covers from our past, that have inexplicably fallen out of print but should never be forgotten.Gems include:Scouts in BondageFrog Raising for Pleasure and ProfitPremature Burial and How It May Be PreventedDrummer Dick's Discharge

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Book SynopsisRare Tongues is an enthralling tour around the rarest languages in the world.

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Book SynopsisOnce upon a time, the worst words you could utter were short, simple and tended to be four letters in length. Now things are more complicated. To be insulted as a ''snowflake'' or an ''expert'' is arguably worse than being called a **** or a **** or even a ****.So what are today''s ''bad words'' and how are they different from yesterday''s taboo expressions? This entertaining guide to the shifting sands of bad language is indispensable in an increasingly divided world in which abuse becomes ever more widespread and vituperative.Philip Gooden shows how and why taboo words and contentious expressions, including those four-letter ones, were first used in English. He discusses the ways such words have changed over the years and explores how a single syllable or two may possess an almost magical power to offend, distress or infuriate.Bad Words investigates the most controversial and provocative words in the English language in a way that is both anecdotal Trade Review". . . while the low-hanging sound of 'bollocks' seems to imitate the thing it describes." If that low-hanging sound is music to your ears, Bad Words has plenty. * Times Literary Supplement *From the article 'Sticks and Stones' in The Economist, titled 'The polarisation of politics has led to a new lexicon of insults' in the online edition. 'A watershed moment has arrived: traditional taboo words, pertaining to the body and excrement, no longer have the punch of group-based insults related to sex, disabilities and other such qualities, about which Western societies are increasingly sensitive. (Race-based gibes have been anathema for a while.)'The evolution of insults is the subject of Philip Gooden's new book, Bad Words. He recounts in one neat reversal the turn in the history of invective. The Sun, a British tabloid, was once in the habit of outing gay people, and even publicly defended its use of "poof" in doing so (because, the paper argued, its readers used the word, too). How times change. After abandoning the practice of outing in 1998, in 2018 the paper led a campaign to track down a bus-driver who called a reality-show star a "poofter". What it once considered lighthearted banter is now verboten homophobia.' -- Johnson * The Economist *

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Book SynopsisA fascinating and incisive examination of our language instinct from award-winning science writer Steven Mithen.Trade ReviewAn interesting attempt to probe the long-term history of feeling as well as of thought... [This] book is intelligent, important and clear. Anyone who likes to ask broad questions about intelligence, religion and experience, as well as anyone interested in long-term human history, will be able to read and argue with [this] book with enjoyment and profit. * THES (3/3/06) *There is much illuminating and thought-provoking material. -- Ross Leckie * THE TIMES *Wonderfully evocative... a highly original view of our musical origins. * GUARDIAN (1/4/06) *

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Book Synopsis Collins Gem Babies Names is number one in the best-selling stakes. Meet its Irish cousin! This detailed guide to more than 2,000 of the most popular Irish first names is the ideal gift for anyone wishing to choose an Irish name for their child, or interested in finding out a bit more about their own name. Irish names are spreading across the world. As well as being more common in Ireland, they now feature in most English-speaking countries of the world. The reason for this spread is not hard to find. Massive emigration, especially during the 19th century famines, left many people of Irish descent in Britain, the U. S., Canada, and Australia. These emigrants often had to give up the Irish language in favor of English, but they took their names with them, gave them to their children, and spread them in the new countries. Indeed some, such as Brian, are now so well-established that they are no longer considered Irish. Others have developed strong associations with their new countries, so that Oscar is sometimes thought of as Scandinavian, Barry and Sheila are associated with Australia, and for most people Darren is American. What then is an Irish name? In this book a very broad view is taken, with special attention paid to what has happened to names after they left Ireland. The names come from Gaelic (and are given in Gaelic and in an anglicized form), from translations from Irish forms of non-Irish names and from Irish surnames and words.

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Book SynopsisThe dialects of English still spoken in Yorkshire, known collectively as Broad Yorkshire, Tyke or Yorkie, are both colorful and instantly recognizable. This handy beginner?s guide to ?how to speak Yorkshire? will have you giving Sean Bean or Jodie Whittaker a run for their money in no time.First, you have to drop your Hs, from ?has? and ?her? for example ? ?as and ?er. Then, the Ts need to go, from ?that? and ?cat? for example, to be replaced with a slight H sound, the so-called glottal stop ? tha? and ca? ? while ?the? becomes simply t?. A famous example (which no one ever actually says) is ?t?in?t in?t tin, meaning ?it isn?t in the tin?. In a similar way ?with? becomes ?wi?. Accents may differ throughout the Dales, but Ts and Hs are dropped throughout Yorkshire.And don?t bother with the G in any -ing ending. Gs at the end of words count for nothin?. The ?ay? sound in a word, like ?day?, becomes ?ee?, as do some i sounds ? ?right?, for example, becomes ?reet?. So, in Yorkshire, you might say, ?I?m ?avin? a reet grand dee!?Never say ?our?; you say ?us? ? Wot?s f?r us tea, Mutha? Yorkshire?s a friendly place ? anyone you meet could be ?love?, ?pal? or ?fella?. And do speak to everyone ? you?re not in London! So, don?t be taken aback if someone hails you with ?Mornin?, pet, reet grand day, i?n?it??The roots of Yorkshire?s dialects can be traced back to the mixing of Anglo-Saxon speakers with Scandivanian settlers from the eighth to the eleventh centuries. In order to understand each other, they dropped gender, word endings and complex conjugations from their languages. The resulting simplified Anglo-Saxon/Middle English lingua franca spread throughout England, more rapidly following the Norman Conquest. Yorkshire is the birthplace of what is now the international language of modern English.Along the way, the dialects have featured in the work of the Brontës, who were born and lived in Yorkshire, famously in Emily Brontë?s Wuthering Heights, also in Charles Dickens? Nicholas Nickleby, among other classic works.

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Book SynopsisIn this fascinating survey of everything from how sounds become speech to how names work, David Crystal answers every question you might ever have had about the nuts and bolts of language in his usual highly illuminating way. 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.

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Book SynopsisA surprising and entertaining explanation of how the words we use (even the ones we don''t notice) reveal our personalities, emotions, and identities.In The Secret Life of Pronouns, social psychologist and language expert James W. Pennebaker uses his groundbreaking research in computational linguistics-in essence, counting the frequency of words we use-to show that our language carries secrets about our feelings, our self-concept, and our social intelligence. Our most forgettable words, such as pronouns and prepositions, can be the most revealing: their patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints.Using innovative analytic techniques, Pennebaker X-rays everything from John McCain''s tweets to the Federalist Papers. Who would have predicted that the high school student who uses too many verbs in her college admissions essay is likely to make lower grades in college? Or that a world leader''s use of pronouns could reliably presage whether he will lead his country into war? You''ll learn what Lady Gaga and William Butler Yeats have in common, and how Ebenezer Scrooge''s syntax hints at his self-deception and repressed emotion in this sprightly, surprising tour of what our words are saying-whether we mean them to or not.

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Book SynopsisIn Pragmatics, the study of meaning derived from context, Jean Stilwell Peccei offers a practical introduction to this core area of linguistics. Pragmatics: encourages the reader to look at different levels of meaning within sentences provides a basic understanding of key pragmatic concepts introduces two highly influential approaches to pragmatics: the Co-Operative Principle and Speech Act Theory encourages the reader to apply basic analytical tools to real data, eg. advertising language and children's conversations provides a range of activities, discussion questions, an answer key and further reading. Trade Review'Jean Stilwell Peccei does an excellent job of introducing the fundamental concepts in a practical and user-friendly manner.' - Aidan Coveney, Modern Language ReviewTable of Contents1. What is pragmatics 2. Entailment 3. Presupposition 4. The co-operative principle and implicature 5. More on implicatures 6. Speech acts 7. More about speech acts 8. Politeness 9. Making sense 10. Exploring pragmatics: projects

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisAn unusual and authoritative ''natural history of languages'' that narrates the ways in which one language has superseded or outlasted another at different times in history.The story of the world in the last five thousand years is above all the story of its languages. Some shared language is what binds any community together, and makes possible both the living of a common history and the telling of it.Yet the history of the world's great languages has rarely been examined. Empires of the Word' is the first to bring together the tales in all their glorious variety: the amazing innovations in education, culture and diplomacy devised by speakers in the Middle East; the uncanny resilience of Chinese throughout twenty centuries of invasions; the progress of Sanskrit from north India to Java and Japan; the struggle that gave birth to the languages of modern Europe; and the global spread of English.Besides these epic achievements, language failures are equally fascinating: why did Germany get left behind? Why did Egyptian, which had survived foreign takeovers for three millennia, succumb to Mohammed's Arabic? Why is Dutch unknown in modern Indonesia, given that the Netherlands had ruled the East Indies for as long as the British ruled India?As this book engagingly reveals, the language history of the world shows eloquently the real characters of peoples; it also shows that the language of the future will, like the languages of the past, be full of surprises.Trade Review‘It is a compelling read, one of the most interesting books I have read in a long while…a great book. After reading it you will never think of language in the same way again.’ Guardian ‘Learned and entertaining…remarkably comprehensive as well as thought-provoking.’ Observer ‘Ostler is particularly good on this linguistic fragility…This richly various book offers new insights and information for almost everyone interested in the past.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘A serious work of scholarship, but one that can be read from cover to cover by the amateur enthusiast…the breadth of this analysis is breathtaking … it does its job admirably.’ Spectator ‘Ambitious and well-researched.’ New Statesman

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Book SynopsisRunes employ many techniques from informal scratchings to sophisticated inlaid designs on weapons, or the exquisite relief carvings of the Franks Casket. This book tells the story of runes from their mysterious origins, their development as a script, to their use and meaning in the modern world.

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Book SynopsisA hugely entertaining and well-written tour of the links between math and literature. Hart's lightness of touch and passion for both subjects make this book a delight to read. Bookworms and number-lovers alike will discover much they didn't know about the creative interplay between stories, structure and sums.' Alex BellosThis exuberant book will educate, amuse and surprise. It might even add another dimension to the way you read.' The Sunday TimesWe often think of mathematics and literature as polar opposites. But what if, instead, they were fundamentally linked? In this insightful, laugh-out-loud funny book, Once Upon a Prime, Professor Sarah Hart shows us the myriad connections between maths and literature, and how understanding those connections can enhance our enjoyment of both.Did you know, for instance, that Moby-Dick is full of sophisticated geometry? That James Joyce's stream-of-consciousness novels are deliberately checkered with mathematical references? That George Eliot w

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Book SynopsisThe remarkable story of Margaret Paston, whose letters form the most extensive collection of personal writings by a medieval English woman. Drawing on the largest archive of medieval correspondence relating to a single family in the UK, God''s Own Gentlewoman explores what everyday life was like during the turbulent decades at the height of the Wars of the Roses. Covering topics including political conflicts and familial in-fighting, forbidden love affairs and clandestine marriages, bloody battles and sieges, fear of plague and sudden death, friendships and animosity, and childbirth and child mortality, Margaret''s letters provide us with unparalleled insight into all aspects of life in late medieval England. Diane Watt, a world expert on medieval women''s writing, offers insight into Margaret''s activities, experiences, emotions and relationships, presenting the life of a medieval woman who was at times absorbed by the mundane and domestic, but who found herself caught up in the mos

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Book SynopsisBestseller & Winner of the Popular Non-Fiction Irish Book Award. 'Thought-provoking, irreverent and often laugh-out-loud hilarious' Irish Independent. "Motherfoclóir" [focloir means 'dictionary' and is pronounced like a rather more vulgar English epithet] is a book based on the popular Twitter account @theirishfor. As the title suggests, Motherfoclóir takes an irreverent, pun-friendly and contemporary approach to the Irish language. The translations are expanded on and arranged into broad categories that allow interesting connections to be made, and sprinkled with anecdotes and observations about Irish and Ireland itself, as well as language in general. The author includes stories about his own relationship with Irish, and how it fits in with the most important events in his life. This is a book for all lovers of the quirks of language.Trade ReviewA completely fresh take on the Irish language * Irish Examiner *Full of familiarity, of nostalgia, of humour and warmth. The author's voice really brings the book and the language to life - he somehow manages to remove all the boring aspects, and replaces them in with rich stories, with quirks, with colour and poignancy... I'll be recommending it heartily' -- Sara Baume, author of Spill Simmer Falter Wither and A Line Made By WalkingÓ Séaghdha picked an opportune time for his grá for Gaeilge to flower among a receptive readership * Irish Examiner *A fun book on a great subject * Sunday Business Post *It's thought-provoking, irreverent and often laugh-out-loud hilarious * Irish Independent *A lot of fun if you're a bit of a nerd for etymology. It sneakily teaches you Irish in a big-hearted way * Irish Independent, Books of the Year *It takes an irreverent, pun friendly and contemporary approach to the Irish language and it's a book for all lovers of the quirks of the Irish language * Tullamore Tribune *

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Book SynopsisIf 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.

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Book SynopsisLanguage is a wild animal: rough, ambiguous, inconsistent in countless ways. But that just makes it all the more tempting to tame it. Many have tried, from sticklers for supposedly correct grammar to inventors of supposedly perfect languages; from software engineers working on machine translation to governments that see language management as politics by another means. But when you enter the lair of a wild beast, you can be lucky to escape with your wits. Join Lane Greene on a journey of discovery into the deep strangeness of language. Learn why grammar rules can never capture the extraordinary variety of ordinary usage. See what happens when you try to design a language that really makes sense. Find out why, for all the talk of decline in English, no language in recorded history has ever gone to the dogs, or ever could. And learn the fate of those bold individuals who, through heroism or ignorance, ventured to teach their tongue some new tricks.Trade ReviewLane Greene is one of my favourite writers on language. -- Steven PinkerWith well chosen examples, he demonstrates languages' resilience and variety ... He is open-minded and discerning ... but he's no zealot and no snob ... he says things that are hard to argue with. -- Daniel Hahn * The Spectator *Both analytical and engaging ... Books that break down potentially tricky subject matter in such a manner are hard to come by, so this one should be treasured * How It Works *

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Book Synopsis*A TIME, New Yorker, Financial Times and History Today Book of the Year*''Hilarious'' Sam Leith''I loved this book'' Susie Dent''''Witty and affectionate'' Lynne TrussPerfect for book lovers, a delightful history of the wonders to be found in the humble book indexMost 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 Butchers, to be avoided, or Cows that sh-te Fire, or even catch Calvin in his chamber with a Nonne. 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. Charting its curious path from the monasteries and universities of thirteenth-century Europe tTrade ReviewFascinating * Financial Times *Witty and wide-ranging...adventurous... as if academic research were as revved-up as a Formula One race -- Peter Conrad * Observer *Masterful * Prospect *Hilarious -- Sam Leith * UnHerd *Exceptionally good ... I learned a huge amount from this wry, clever, diverting book * Scotsman *Brilliant, fascinating...a binge-worthy book -- Greg JennerI loved this book - the story of the index turns out to be a true adventure -- Susie Dent (on Twitter)Charming ... Indexes are to books as menus are to meals: often the best bit * Economist *Illuminating ... A seemingly niche and esoteric subject, the index becomes, in Duncan's hands, a minor miracle. Index, A History of the is 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 -- Kate Wiles * History Today *What 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, passim! Entertainment, idem! -- David Bellos * author of Is That a Fish in Your Ear? *Dennis 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. -- Lynne Truss * author of Eats, Shoots and Leaves *Entrancing ... 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. -- Christopher de Hamel * author of Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts *Packed 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 * The Oldie *Index, A History of the focuses 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 * The Lady *To me, a truly great history book is one that changes something in the way in which I see the world Dennis Duncan's Index, A History of the certainly achieved that. Who realised there was such a fascinating, funny and delightful history behind the humble index? -- Katja Hoyer * History Today – Books of the Year *Index, A History of the manages to be both a work of immense erudition and perfect Sunday afternoon reading -- Joseph Hone * History Today – Books of the Year *Smart, playful....Duncan has written such a generous book, attentive to the varieties of the reading experience -- Jennifer Szalai * New York Times *Gracefully learned, often witty and enlightening -- Ben Yagoda * Wall Street Journal *Dennis 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 -- Mary Norris, author of Between You & Me and Greek to MeSparkles 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 * Kirkus Reviews (starred review) *Backmatter has never enjoyed such a spotlight; sure to amuse bibliophiles and casual readers alike * Library Journal (starred review) *Duncan 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 -- James Waddell * Times Literary Supplement *An 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 -- Steven Moore * Washington Post *A learned and playful study, by British academic Dennis Duncan, of a textual machinery so successful it's become almost invisible -- Brian Dillon * 4Columns *A 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 -- Erica Ezeifedi * BookRiot *After 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 * TIME Magazine *Book of the Year* *Clever, sprightly ... Duncan is a brilliantly illuminating and wide-ranging guide -- Fara Dabhoiwala * New York Review of Books *Brilliant, fascinating...a binge-worthy book -- Greg Jenner

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Book SynopsisThis 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.Trade Review... 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 *Table of ContentsEditor's Preface ; Abbreviations ; Introduction ; Dictionary ; Bibliography ; Thematic Index

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Book SynopsisAn 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.Table of ContentsContents Abbreviations and Other Text Conventions Introduction Wordbuilding A-Z Glossary Sources

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Book SynopsisFROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON.'Reading The Horologicon in one sitting is very tempting' Roland White, Sunday Times.Mark Forsyth presents a delightfully eccentric day in the life of unusual, beautiful and forgotten English words.From uhtceare in the hours before dawn through to dream drumbles at bedtime, The Horologicon gives you the extraordinary lost words you never knew you needed.Wake up feeling rough? Then you're philogrobolized. Pretending to work? That's fudgelling (which may lead to rizzling if you feel sleepy after lunch). A Radio 4 Book of the Week, The Horologicon is an eye-opening, page-turning celebration of the English language at its most endearingly arcane.Trade ReviewA delightfully eccentric ... illuminating new book. -- Daily MailWhether you are out on the pickaroon or ogo-pogoing for a bellibone, The Horologicon is a lexical lamppost. -- The FieldReading The Horologicon in one sitting is very tempting. -- Roland White * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis''At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world... Sparky and very funny'' Paul Hayward''Amusing and informative in equal measure'' Oliver Kay, The AthleticA wonderful, endlessly delightful book' When Saturday ComesA new edition of an expertly compiled and utterly fascinating compendium of the weird and wonderful words and phrases used to describe football around the world.In this revised glossary of football words and phrases, discover the rich, quirky and joyously creative global language used by fans, commentators and players.From placing a shot ''where the owl sleeps'' in Brazil, to what it means to use your ''chocolate leg'' in the Netherlands, via ''Anglican'' a phrase adopted by Czechs to describe a disputed goal and the now ubiquitous ''it''s coming home'', this comprehensively researched book entertains and informs in equal measure.Discover why a ''Trade ReviewFunny, erudite, rich in detail and endlessly readable. Perfect for anyone who thinks they already know about the language of football. -- Barney Ronay * The Guardian *Sparky and very funny... At last, the definitive guide to football phraseology across the world. The richness of the game's language shines through in this addictive glossary. -- Paul Hayward * Five-time Sports Journalists’ Association Writer of the Year *Amusing and informative in equal measure. Who knew Dundee United commanded such disdain in Nigeria? -- Oliver Kay, The AthleticQuirky, addictive, stuffed with anecdote, it’s far more than a glossary… The writing is precise, light and often lovely. A treat. -- Jonathan Northcroft * Sunday Times *A fascinating and necessary work. -- Jonathan Wilson, founder of The BlizzardEin super Buch! -- Raphael Honigstein, The AthleticA wonderful, endlessly delightful book * When Saturday Comes *There are plenty of books about the language of football already, but surely not one like this: funny, informative and truly global. * 11Freunde *By reading this book, you will discover the complexity, the colour and the power of football’s global language. * Clarence Seedorf *A reminder that there are few better means of celebrating both our differences and similarities than the game of football. * The Guardian *Table of ContentsForeword by Clarence Seedorf Introduction South America Putting it on a Plate - Where Football Meets Food North and Central America Near Unstoppable - Top Corner Terminology Europe Between the Legs - Nutmeg Names Africa Dodgy Keepers - A Glossary of Gaffes Asia Natural Talent - Expressions Inspired by the Animal Kingdom Australasia Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisThe English language is where words go to be tortured and mutilated into unrecognizable shadows of their former selves. It''s where Latin, Greek, and Germanic roots are shredded apart and stitched unceremoniously back together with misunderstood snippets of languages snatched from the wreckage of conquest and colonialism. It wreaks merciless havoc upon grammar and spelling. It turns clinical terms into insults and children''s tales into filthy euphemisms.With an emphasis on understanding where the foulest words in the English language came from-and the disgusting and hilarious histories behind them-this book demonstrates the true filth of our everyday words. But this book is more than just a list of vulgar words and salacious slang. It''s a thoughtful analysis of why we deem words as being inappropriate as well as revealing ''good words'' that have surprisingly naughty origins.Dirty-minded word nerds and lewd linguistics lovers will derive unadulterated pleasu

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Book SynopsisDid you know that . . . a soldier''s biggest social blunder is called jack brew - making yourself a cuppa without making one for anyone else? That twitchers have an expression for a bird that can''t be identified - LBJ (the letters stand for Little Brown Job)? Or that builders call plastering the ceiling doing Lionel Richie''s dancefloor? Susie Dent does.Ever wondered why football managers all speak the same way, what a cabbie calls the Houses of Parliament, or how ticket inspectors discreetly request back-up? We are surrounded by hundreds of tribes, each speaking their own distinct slanguage of colourful words, jokes and phrases, honed through years of conversations on the battlefield, in A&E, backstage, or at ten-thousand feet in the air. Susie Dent has spent years interviewing hundreds of professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts, and the result is an idiosyncratic phrasebook like no other. From the Freemason''s handshake tTrade ReviewA fabulous read for anyone who loves words, and wants to learn some more. Funny, fact-filled and delightful -- Jonathan RossWonderfully clever and funny . . . a national treasury from a national treasure -- Richard OsmanA fascinating, joyful look at the tribes all around us, from twitchers to taxi-drivers. A must -- Matt HaigI thought only criminals had their own words for everything. Dent's Modern Tribes shows me quite how wrong I was -- Lynne TrussSparkles with gentle wit, fascinating illustration, and linguistic insight -- David CrystalA brilliant, funny, wise, and illuminating canter through the languages of modern tribes -- Richard MadeleySusie Dent is a one-off. She breathes life and fun into words -- Pam AyresThe keys to the mysterious Kingdom of Jargon -- Adam BuxtonThis phrasebook is like no other and will help anyone talk the talk - whatever that might be * The Sun *Thoroughly entertaining and illuminating * Independent *Fascinating study of expressions . . . Dent is something of a modern-day Professor Henry Higgins * The Lady *A work of considerable interest and charm, dishing up verbal pleasures and surprises on virtually every page * Sentence First blog *

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Book SynopsisKnow your from Arbroath smokies from your wynds, your trews from your sporran, and . . . lang may yer lum reek!Some say that Scots use more Scottish slang than English, but whether that?s true or not, the speech of most Scots is certainly peppered with slang. So, whether you?re visiting Glesga (Glasgow), home to Weegies, short for Glaswegians, the Granite City (Aberdeen) or the capital ? known as Auld Reekie for the same reason that London was once, and sometimes still is, known as the Big Smoke ? this concise guide will come in handy.There are many old Scottish sayings dating back to our grandparents? day and beyond, but there are also many fairly recent inventions. Some of the older ones are rarely used now, which may be just as well, as they may baffle even a Scot, particularly depending on which part of Scotland you?re in.Scottish English varies greatly from the Highlands to South Ayrshire and from the east of the country to the west, with different words sometimes being used to describe the same thing in different places.Some sayings will ?make yer heid mince?, some are poetic and many will just make you laugh. This is a book for visitors to Scotland and for anyone crossing the border, in either direction. It will also evoke a pang of homesickness in any Scottish expatriate.While a concise guide can?t possibly be exhaustive, it can, as this handy pocket book does, offer a revealing and entertaining selection of words and idioms in common usage.

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