Language: history and general works Books

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 SynopsisThis Language, A River is an introduction to the history of English that recognizes multiple varieties of the language in both current and historical contexts. The book aims to enable students to both grasp traditional histories of English, and to extend and complicate those histories. Exercises throughout provide opportunities for puzzling out concepts, committing terms and data to memory, and applying ideas. A comprehensive glossary and up-to-date bibliographies help to guide further study.This accompanying workbook includes exercises keyed to each chapter of the textbook. Exercises are graded into beginning, intermediate and advanced groupings, which will aid in making the textbook appropriate for different levels of students.Trade Review“This Language, A River: Workbook complements the eponymous textbook perfectly and is therefore a fantastic resource for students and instructors alike. With the comprehensive coverage of historical and linguistic phenomena in the textbook, the exercises provided in this workbook allow students to experience the English used in specific periods in a hands-on way, which deepens and broadens the understanding of the history of English. This workbook is extremely accessible. Each chapter features activities for students at different stages in their academic career—beginner, intermediate, and advanced—which allows instructors great flexibility to adjust material for lower and upper division and even graduate-level courses. The way in which the exercises build on each other and become more complex also ensures that no activity is redundant. Even at a higher-level course, the beginner-level exercises will serve as great introductory activities to a specific topic. This workbook is a marvelous resource.” — Dominik Heinrici, The University of Tennessee ChattanoogaTable of Contents 1: Introduction 2: Grammar Fundamentals 3: Before English 4: Introduction to Phonetics 5: Germanic 6: Orthography, Phonology, Morphology, and Syntax 7: Old English 8: Middle English 9: Early Modern English 10: The Modern Period and Global Englishes Glossary of Terms

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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 discip

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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 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 SynopsisRaymond Williams' seminal exploration of the history of meaning of some of the most important words in the English language.First published in 1976, and expanded in 1983, KEYWORDS reveals how the meanings of 131 words including art', class', family', media', sex' and tradition' were formed and subsequently altered and redefined as the historical contexts in which they were used changed.Neither a defining dictionary or glossary, KEYWORDS is rather a brilliant investigation into how the meanings of some of the most important words in the English language have shifted over time, and the forces that brought about those shifts.Trade Review‘A revelatory unpacking of the complicated disputes that lay – dormant, as it were – within familiar words’ Guardian ‘Williams’s essential point about the social and political stakes in simple words and phrases is as true today as it was in the 1970s: think of the many battles that have erupted around terms like “liberal,” “torture,” “pro-life” or “intelligent design”’ New York Times ‘This book is an erudite, elegant, and awful warning to anybody tempted to lay down the lexicographical law, in order to apply one authoritative fixed sense to a highly variable and controversial value word’ The Times ‘Keywords is useful and stimulating to all who work with words or merely love them’ Wall Street Journal ‘The book’s greatest value, perhaps, is its exemplification of how all of us should respond to the words we hear and use: with surprise, distrust, curiosity, and unflagging vigilance’ Yale Review ‘An invaluable book … A unique coda to the words of one of our most original and provocative thinkers’ Harpers

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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 SynopsisAn in-depth biography of the Latin language from its very beginnings to the present day from the widely acclaimed author of Empires of the Word'.The Latin language has been a constant in the cultural history of the West for over two millennia. It has shaped the way we think of ourselves and of our (central) place in the world. It has formed and united us as Europeans, has been the foundation of our education for centuries and defined the way in which we express our thoughts, our faith and our knowledge of the workings of the world. And yet, Latin began life as the cumbersome dialect of a small southern Italian city-state.Its active use lasted three times as long as Rome''s Empire and its use echoes on in the law codes of half the world, in terminologies of biology and medicine, and until forty years ago in the litany of the Catholic Church, the most populous form of Christianity.In Ad Infinitum', Nicholas Ostler examines the reasons why Latin made such a long-lasting impact on language, and how it managed to stay alive for two millennia despite the cultural superiority of Greek. He will look at how Latin''s sturdy roots remained untouched while empires rose and fell, the influence of religion, war and the ways it has progressed through medieval times right up until the present day.Trade ReviewPraise for 'Empires of the Word': '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 SynopsisAn entertaining, informative, and elegantly designed guide that makes understanding punctuation marks and symbols simple and fun.A rollicking linguistic ride for fans ofEats, Shoots & LeavesandJust My Type.What is the purpose of the comma perhaps the most used symbol in the English language and what are the proper uses of the asterisk? Do quote marks go inside or outside punctuation? What about a quote within a quote a quote from someone quoting someone else? How much space goes on either side of an ellipsis? What's the difference between an en dash and an em dash?Snails and Monkey Tails is a show-stopping guide with more than 75 uniquely designed two-colour spreads. Award-winning graphic designer Michael Arndt explores the typographic origins, names, and shapes of both common punctuation marks and symbols, as well as the proper and diverse usage of each. From the full stop to the question mark, the semicolon to the en dash, symbols and marks are an integral part of language.Trade Review"From commas to semicolons, from slashes to asterisks, from guillemets to octothorpes (named, perhaps, after athlete Jim Thorpe), you’ll never look at punctuation the same way again." Michael Bierut, partner, Pentagram

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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 SynopsisFormer sports journalist Geoff Tibballs has written nearly 100 books, including the The Batsman's Holding, the Bowler's Willey for Ebury.

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Book SynopsisIn the century since its birth, the crossword has evolved into the world''s most popular intellectual pastime: a unique form of wordplay, the codes and conventions of which are open to anyone masochistic enough to get addicted. In Two Girls, One on Each Knee, Alan Connor celebrates the wit, ingenuity and frustration of setting and solving puzzles. From the beaches of D-Day to the imaginary worlds of three-dimensional crosswords, to the British school teachers and journalists who turned the form into the fiendish sport it is today, encompassing the most challenging clues, particular tricks, the world''s greatest setters and famous solvers, PG Wodehouse and the torturers of the Spanish Inquisition, this is an ingenious book for lovers of this very particular form of wordplay.Trade ReviewAlan Connor's charming, fascinating history . . . is as elegantly sprinkled with surprising gems as the most satisfying crossword . . . thoroughly, consistently entertaining . . . In a single, gloriously decipherable chapter he lays out with perfect clarity the entire range of rules and devices through which cryptic clues work their magic * Sunday Times *It is witty, charming, encyclopaedic and highly readable - and it can be read in any order. Take a chapter or a paragraph, a puzzle or a clue. In each the reader will find something to intrigue and delight. * Spectator *Two Girls is a lovingly crafted little book, from the table of contents - where chapter titles are hidden in a crossword designed by the great Araucaria - to the index, which skips from "I give up, see frustration" via "primness in American crosswords", to finish with "zookeepers, beleaguered". * The Times *A lovingly crafted little book . . . Connor's wry, good-natured tone and his commitment to the serious business of play make him the perfect guide to a great pastime as it approaches its 100th birthday * Daily Telegraph *Connor writes with great flair . . . it is nice to dip in and out of his entertaining essays * Church Times *An ideal stocking filler * Metro *The brilliant new book on crosswords that delivers fun galore whether you're a doer or a duffer * Mail on Sunday *There is something to entertain even the most infrequent dabbler * Financial Times *

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Book Synopsis''Stuffed with entertaining detail ... Horrible Words is lively, provocative, witty and enlightening'' The TimesNothing inflames the language purists like an illogical irregardless or a hideous otherization. But is it enough simply to dismiss these words as vile and barbarous howlers? Taking a genial tour far and wide through our linguistic badlands, Rebecca Gowers finds answers that are helpful, surprising and often extremely funny.''Exuberant, erudite, informative and fun ... a call on all English-speakers to trust their own feel for their language, to relish their verbal inventiveness and to do battle against the pedants who tell them they are wrong'' Michael Skapinker, Financial Times ''A very useful book, packed with good historical sense'' Lynne Truss, The TimesTrade ReviewA great delight -- David CrystalGowers is fierce, funny and staggeringly well informed -- Alan Connor * Mail on Sunday *Stuffed with entertaining detail ... Horrible Words is lively, provocative, witty and enlightening * The Times *Exuberant and stimulating ... erudite, informative and fun * Financial Times *Witty ... wry ... As a heretic, Gowers cuts a formidable figure * The Times Literary Supplement *A very useful book, packed with good historical sense -- Lynne Truss * The Times *A joy - informative and irreverent -- Caroline TaggartWitty and erudite ... A splendid antidote to small-minded pedantry -- Robbie Millen * The Times *Will have you enraptured by etymology ... Hugely enjoyable * Reader's Digest *

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Book SynopsisA PULITZER PRIZE FINALISTA riveting, masterfully researched account of the bold innovators who adapted the Chinese language to the modern world, transforming China into a superpower in the processWhat does it take to reinvent the world''s oldest living language?China today is one of the world''s most powerful nations, yet just a century ago it was a crumbling empire with literacy reserved for the elite few, left behind in the wake of Western technology. In Kingdom of Characters, Jing Tsu shows that China''s most daunting challenge was a linguistic one: to make the formidable Chinese language - a 2,200-year-old writing system that was daunting to natives and foreigners alike - accessible to a globalized, digital world.Kingdom of Characters follows the bold innovators who adapted the Chinese script - and the value-system it represents - to the technological advances that would shape the twentieth century and beyond, from the Trade ReviewEnchanting... [Tsu's] love for the enigma and beauty of Chinese shines through in this delightful mix of history and linguistics... A pleasure to read -- Michael Sheridan * Sunday Times *Erudite and beautifully written -- Rana Mitter * TLS *Incredibly fascinating... Chinese is the oldest written language in the world, and this book is very much an aperture book. Look through its linguistic premise and a whole panorama of politics, technology and aesthetics springs into life... Remarkable -- Stuart Kelly * Scotsman *Impressive... A well-told story about those who created modern China not through the barrel of a gun or a little red book but through dictionaries, libraries and printing presses. As the Chinese say, heroes are born out of turbulent times, and what China has undergone has been nothing if not turbulent -- Cindy Yu * Spectator *[Tsu] brings to life the individuals who gave their all to solve China's problems with language technology, even as political and social turmoil was raging around them -- Gaston Dorren * Guardian *How to permit what Joseph Needham admiringly called "the glittering, crystalline world" of China's ancient ideographic script to run along the western-made telegraph wires, to be typewritten instead of brush-stroked, to make full use of Silicon Valley's internet and the iPhone, is a story of both dazzling technical and political fascination and an ever-swelling global importance. Jing Tsu has crafted a tale of this achievement with flair, originality and extraordinary narrative power: seldom have I read a book about modern China so informative, revelatory and enjoyable -- Simon WinchesterAn absolute joy to read. This stunning, meticulously researched book is the detective story of Chinese characters. Jing Tsu has seamlessly fused the craft of the linguistic historian with the artistry of the storyteller - including cliff-hangers -- David Crystal, author of THE STORIES OF ENGLISH and HOW LANGUAGE WORKSAn amazing story! How Chinese speech and script go to be standardized and made fit for the age of printing, data-processing and the internet is a true adventure story, told with brio and passion in this eye-opening book. It's a complicated tale, to be sure, and the solutions found verge on the miraculous. But the false starts, forgotten heroes, the rejections of the past and returns to tradition that are clearly laid out in this book also map out a cultural history of modern China. Immensely instructive and thoroughly enjoyable -- David Bellos, author of IS THAT A FISH IN YOUR EAR?Writing about writing is hard; writing about Chinese writing in English is devilish. Strokes, logographs, ideographs - even the basic terminology can cloud the mind like a calligraphy brush loaded with too much ink. Jing Tsu's brilliant solution is to focus on characters - not the ones written from left to right, top to bottom, but the actual living, breathing, thinking individuals who, since the start of the twentieth century, did everything they could to adapt the Chinese language and writing system to the modern world. In Kingdom of Characters, Tsu introduces us to a cast of unforgettable figures: the wanted fugitive who pushes for Mandarin as China's national tongue; the engineer and bamboo expert who develops a Chinese typewriter; the railway administrator who tries to figure out how to send telegrams in a language without an alphabet. Along the way, Tsu tells an essential story of modern China: a country at once transformed and yet deeply traditional -- Peter HesslerKingdom of Characters is an eye-opener. It approaches a central topic in modern and contemporary Chinese culture through a unique perspective, combining scholarship with vivid historical narrative. Jing Tsu wears her erudition lightly and gives us a fascinating and moving story. It shows the passionate struggle of generations of pioneers, who tried to find ways of reshaping and preserving the Chinese written script. It's a story of desperate strife, unflagging dedication, and ultimately, triumph -- Ha JinKingdom of Characters is a deeply engaging and revealing narrative of the Chinese language in modern times: its graphic and phonetic transformations, conceptual debates, technological innovations, and political contentions. Jin Tsu has brought together a series of key moments concerning Chinese modernity, from the first Chinese typewriter to the digital Sinosphere, from the script reform to the voice revolution. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, this book is indispensable for anyone interested in the sound and script of modern China -- Professor David Wang, Harvard UniversityInteresting and very readable -- Peter Gordon * Asian Review of Books *

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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 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 SynopsisAlmost everyone swears, or worries about not swearing, from the two year-old who has just discovered the power of potty mouth to the grandma who wonders why every other word she hears is obscene. Whether they express anger or exhilaration, are meant to insult or to commend, swear words perform a crucial role in language. But swearing is also a uniquely well-suited lens through which to look at history, offering a fascinating record of what people care about on the deepest levels of a culture--what''s divine, what''s terrifying, and what''s taboo. Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. With humor and insight, Melissa Mohr takes readers on a journey to discover how swearing has come to include both testifying with your hand on the Bible and calling someone a *#$&!* when they cut you off on the highway. She explores obscenities in ancient Rome--which were remarkably similar to our own--and unearths the history oTrade ReviewStudying swearing is a way of studying human nature itself ... Holy Sh*t, Melissa Mohr's book on the history of profanity ... would all be good places to start. * The Economist *Blending scholarly insight and ribald esprit, Holy Sh*t is a treasure trove of curious that will delight the logophile and the deviant alike. * Houman Barekat, Times Literary Supplement *... an excellent book about history of language. * William Leith, Evening Standard *... informative, often entertaining book * Susan Elkin, Independent i *I want to quote all of this to you, that's how much fun this history of swearing is * Alison Flood, Bookseller *Insightful, accessible and witty. * The Lady *Throughout time, as words have left FCC-monitor territory and entered everyday conversation, we've kept coming up with new ways to express our greatest, angriest, most enthusiastic exclamations. And that process is pretty fucking cool. * Atlantic Monthly *Intelligent and enjoyable... Ms. Mohr leads us on an often ear-boggling tour of verbal depravity, through the medieval and early-modern periods (via a fascinating analysis of scatological phrasing in early Bible translations) to the Victorian era and then our own time. * Wall Street Journal *...one of the most absorbing and entertaining books on language I have encountered in a long time * Washington Post *As someone who relies on various forms of obscenity, vulgarity and profanity for roughly 75% of my written and verbal communication, I found this book fascinating and illuminating. Melissa Mohr's scholarship is rigorous, her prose trenchant and delightful; right from page one, Holy Sh*t is a motherf*cker. We are what we swear by and about, and this slim volume represents a significant and deeply enjoyable contribution to our understanding of ourselves. * Adam Mansbach, #1 New York Times bestselling author of GO THE F*CK TO SLEEP *[Mohr's] approach positively twinkles with pleasure and amusement… This is a cracking f****** book, and innominables to anyone who says otherwise. * Sam Leith, The Guardian *In Holy Sh*t, Melissa Mohr makes curses, oaths, profanities, and swear words the occasion for an entertaining and far-ranging historical journey, from the disputes over religious oaths in the Tudor period to the labored delicacies of the Victorians to our modern debates about expletives in the media and our new-found reticence about racial and religious slurs. One-stop shopping for anyone interested in the nether reaches of the English vocabulary. * Geoff Nunberg, University of California at Berkeley, Language Commentator on NPR's Fresh Air *Profanity - the language that offends us-tells a great deal about who we are and how we got that way. Melissa Mohr's Holy Sh*t is a fascinating investigation, both provocative and immensely informative. I found it compulsively readable. * Stephen Orgel, author of Imagining Shakespeare *Digressions on the art of equivocation and the etymology of some of the most infamous curses are highlights of the book, but those looking for a Devil's Dictionary of bad language should look elsewhere-this is some serious sh*t. * Publishers Weekly *Informed, enlightening and often delightfully surprising. * Kirkus Reviews *Table of ContentsIntroductionChapter 1: Romana Simplicitate Loqui: To Speak with Roman PlainnessChapter 2: On Earth as It Is in HeavenChapter 3: Tearing God to Pieces: The Middle AgesChapter 4: The Rise of Obscenity: The RenaissanceChapter 5: How Trousers Became Unmentionable and Legs Disappeared Altogether: The 18th and 19th CenturiesChapter 6: The Law and Science of Swearing: The Twentieth CenturyConclusion

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Book SynopsisHad you said What a guy! in 17th-century England, anyone would have understood you were admiring a flaming effigy of Guy Fawkes of the Gunpowder Treason Plot. How times have changed! In America and, indeed, most of the English-speaking world, guy is so embedded in daily speech that we scarcely notice how odd it truly is: a singular guy referring to males only, a plural guys encompassing the entire human race. The journey from England''s greatest villain to America''s favorite second-person plural pronoun offers a story rich with surprising and unprecedented turns. Through his trademark breezy, highly readable style, acclaimed writer Allan Metcalf takes us deep into this history, uncovering the intrigue, murderous plots, and torture out of which the word emerged in 1605. From there, it''s a thrilling run through 17th-century England, bloody religious controversies, and across the Atlantic to America, where the word took on a life of its own, exploding into popular culture and day-to-day conversation. From the disappearance of thou, to George Washington and the American Revolution, to the modern revival of Guy Fawkes in V for Vendetta, Metcalf explores the improbable history of a simple word so indispensable to our daily lives, and that evokes deep insights into the evolution of English itself.Trade Review"The Life of Guy is the story of attempted regime change leading to language change, as Allan Metcalf puts it pithily. It starts with a riveting history of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot that almost destroyed the monarchy and Parliament of England. It ends with guy's evolution into arguably one of the most important words in the English language-a subject pronoun. Along the way, we learn about strange British traditions like burning "the Guy," how English lost thou, its informal, intimate way to say you, and how you guys, y'all, and yinz are battling for second-person plural supremacy. A great read!"--Melissa Mohr, author of Holy Sh*t "A fascinating story-an intriguing blend of history and linguistics."--David Crystal, University of Wales, Bangor, and author of Making Sense and The Story of Be "It all began with a guy named Guy--Guy Fawkes--who, among other Roman Catholic provocateurs, attempted to blow up the House of Lords, while the Protestant king, James I, was in the House, when Parliament opened on November 5, 1605. So, the story of guy begins. Allan Metcalf, with characteristic expertise, clarity, and wit, starts there and tells guy's incredible story. I liked it and learned a lot from it. I think you guys will, too."--Michael Adams, Indiana University, and author of Slayer Slang and In Praise of Profanity "Did you ever wonder why 'guys' means just about anyone as long as there's more than one? As Allan Metcalf writes, language change is "miraculous". This book cracks open the mystery of why and how. You guys will have the most interesting cocktail party conversation going with this story!"--Sali A. Tagliamonte, University of Toronto "The Life of Guy is a charming little book, glancing at some things deep under the surface of language. You guys might want to give it a look" --John McIntyre; The Baltimore SunTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: The Miracle Chapter 2: Religion Gets a Divorce Chapter 3: Guy Fawkes Chapter 4: The Trial and Execution of Guy Fawkes Chapter 5: First Bonfire Days Chapter 6: Gunpowder Days in England: The Pope and the Guy Chapter 7: Pope Night in America: Deconstructing Guy in the New World Chapter 8: Thou art gone, except in Quaker prayer, leaving gap in second person pronoun. Chapter 9: You Guys Chapter 10: Villain Becomes Hero: The Modern Guy Fawkes Chapter 11: Present Day Chapter 12: The Future of Guys

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Book SynopsisLatin continued to be used across Europe long after the end of the Roman Empire. This collection considers key issues arising from the use of Latin in Britain from the 6th to the 16th centuries. Latin in this period was not the native language of its users but was nevertheless used extensively for a wide variety of functions from religion, literature, and philosophy to record-keeping and correspondence. It existed alongside a number of everyday native spoken languages, including English, French, and Welsh. The chapters in this collection consider Latin with regard to the various contexts in which it was used, looking beyond narrow comparisons with its Roman ancestor to see what medieval users did with Latin and the changing effects this had on the language. The fifteen chapters by expert contributors are divided into three parts. The chapters of the first part consider important examples of Latin usage in Britain during four successive periods, the pre-Conquest period, the 12th centuryTrade ReviewThe collection is diverse, and the wide range both of topics and of scholarly approaches provides ample testimony not only to the richness and complexity of the Latin tradition in Britain but also to the impressive achievement of the dictionary's editors and contributors, faced with such a daunting quantity and range of material. * Pádraic Moran, Speculum *this volume excellently demonstrates the breadth and value of the corpus of Medieval Latin from Britain. Individual contributions on the whole are exemplary and will be of great use to a wide readership, while the editorial standards of the volume are high. Although not exhaustive in its reach, this collection is a fine tribute both to the DMLBS and Medieval Latin studies more generally. * Robert Gallagher, The Medieval Review *Table of ContentsPART I; PART II; PART III

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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 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 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 SynopsisBanter, chit-chat, gossip, natter, tete-a-tete: these are just a few of the terms for the varied ways in which we interact with one another through conversation. David Crystal explores the factors that motivate so many different kinds of talk and reveals the rules we use unconsciously, even in the most routine exchanges of everyday conversation.Trade ReviewA useful addition to an English teacher's armoury and certain to pique students' interest in the language that happens all around them, all the time... Let's Talk is a powerful statement about our species and the centrality to it of conversation in all its collaborative glory. * Nikolai Luck, Teaching English *For Crystal, the aim of a conversation is to make everyone happy or, at least, satisfied at the end ... [he] has definitely achieved that. * Training, Language & Culture *For the teacher or advanced student there are masses of insights in the book and examples of how language is used to manage conversation... For Crystal the aim of a conversation is to make every-one happy or, at least, satisfied at the end. Citing Dr Johnson once again, conversation should create 'a pleasing impression'. David Crystal has definitely achieved that. * Barry Tomalin, Training, Language & Culture *I've always enjoyed Crystal's books and this one was no exception... it's certainly a good read I would recommend to anyone with an interest in language or conversation. * Shiny New Books *Table of Contents1: Greetings! 2: In the beginning... 3: A thousand years of conversation 4: Exchanges 5: Taking turns - or not 6: Interrupting 7: What we talk about 8: How we talk about it 9: Taking it easy 10: Story-telling 11: Stylistic options 12: The vocal and the visual 13: Conversation as theatre 14: Online 'conversations' 15: Cultural conversations 16: Breaking the rules 17: Does conversation change? 18: #Almost done Epilogue References Index

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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 SynopsisWriting a War of Words is the first exploration of the war-time quest by Andrew Clark - a writer, historian, and volunteer on the first edition of the Oxford English Dictionary - to document changes in the English language from the start of the First World War up to 1919. Clark''s unique series of lexical scrapbooks, replete with clippings, annotations, and real-time definitions, reveals a desire to put living language history to the fore, and to create a record of often fleeting popular use. The rise of trench warfare, the Zeppelinophobia of total war, and descriptions of shellshock (and raid shock on the Home Front) all drew his attentive gaze. The archive includes examples from a range of sources, such as advertising, newspapers, and letters from the Front, as well as documenting social issues such as the shifting forms of representation as women ''did their bit'' on the Home Front. Lynda''s Mugglestone''s fascinating investigation of this valuable archive reassesses the conventionaTrade ReviewWriting a War of Words is scholarly, as a definitive study should be, but eminently readable. * E. L. Battistella, CHOICE *Writing a War of Words is an invaluable contribution both to lexicography and history 'from below', recording words and expressions which have been preserved thanks to Clark's immense efforts. It will certainly inspire future research which will provide new insights into the lexical impact of the Great War on the English language. The book will be of interest to lexicographers, language historians, historians and anyone interested in World War I and its discourse, which can be extended to the discourse of war in general. * Prof.Dr. Lelija Socanac, The LINGUIST *Lynda Mugglestone's "Writing a War of Words" is a fascinating account of the immense effort of Andrew Clark, a diarist, historian and philologist, to record in minute detail the fleeting existence of English words and shifting meanings which appeared during the Great War in a variety of unconventional sources such as advertising, newspapers, and letters from the Front. This immense lexical richness vividly recreates different aspects of everyday life of ordinary people facing the harsh realities of war. * Lelija Socanac, University of Zagreb, Linguist List *Mugglestone has a shrewd understanding of the technical business and psychological climate of lexicography. Her research is scrupulous, and through her analysis Clark's catalogue of usage comes to seem an achievement of almost Johnsonian proportions - each page a time capsule, and the whole project an extraordinarily detailed map of the period's changing "langscape"... a generous tribute to his [Clark's] linguistic curiosity and curatorial intelligence. * Henry Hitchings, Times Literary Supplement *The voluminous diaries and scrapbooks Andrew Clark compiled during World War One prove him alert to words and usage of the time and a skilled and prescient commentator on their significance. In her new book, Lynda Mugglestone reconstructs Clark's account of the 'war of words' amidst the war, his finger, as she puts it, 'on the pulse of words in time', equally an apt description of Mugglestone's historical touch. Anyone with an interest in the history of English, the Great War, or the Oxford English Dictionary, to which Clark contributed, must read Writing a War of Words. * Michael Adams, Indiana University Bloomington *Lynda Mugglestone's Writing a War of Words is a revelation. It tells the story of Andrew Clark, a diarist and philologist whose reflections on language and the Great War offer a wealth of information about English linguistic history and its social contexts. But more generally, it reveals the centrality of the Great War to the study of the English Language itself. Much has been made of Tolkien's war and its impact on his philology and fantasy. Clark is different: he is a personal, self-reflective writer, an acute observer of words and people, and a historian of the imagination. His diary is a true discovery, and Professor Mugglestone shows him standing on a par with Siegfried Sassoon and Robert Graves. Writing a War of Words will stand with Paul Fussell's The Great War and Modern Memory as a lasting, revisionary account of early twentieth-century personal writing, language change, and the wartime literary imagination. * Seth Lerer, University of California, San Diego *Table of ContentsPreface: Writing a War of Words 1: Word-hoard: From History to Historical Principles 2: Reading into Words 3: 'Doing One's Bit': From Voluntary Endeavour to Conscription 4: The Langscape of War 5: Border Crossings 6: English in a Time of Total War 7: Writing the Woman's Part 8: Written on the Body 9: Last Words

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Book SynopsisSir William Jones (1746-94) was the foremost Orientalist of his generation and one of the greatest intellectual navigators of all time. He re-drew the map of European thought. ''Orientalist'' Jones was an extraordinary man and an intensely colourful figure. At the age of twenty-six, Jones was elected to Dr Johnson''s Literary Club, on terms of intimacy with the metropolitan luminaries of the day. The names of his friends in Britain and India present a roll-call of late eighteenth-century glitterati: Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Priestley, Edmund Burke, Warren Hastings, Johannes Zoffany, Edward Gibbon, Oliver Goldsmith, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Charles James Fox, William Pitt, and David Garrick. In Bengal his Sanskrit researches marked the beginning of Indo-European comparative grammar, and modern comparative-historical linguistics, of Indology, and the disciplines of comparative literature, philology, mythology, and law. He did moreTrade ReviewAll in all, this is an excellent biography of an extraordinary eighteenth-century intellectual ... the author has succeeded in giving a very lively portrait of a man with a fascinating personality, and the book offers the right balance between detailed and accurate factual information, a sensitive psychological interpretation of William Jones the man, and a clear exposition of the importance of his contribution to linguistics and Orientalism. * Pierre Dubois, Graat *... intelligent and stimulating ... This is a splendid book - in the richness of its research and the depth of its empathy, in the subtle delineation of William Jones's character and the diligent unravelling of a multi-faceted subject. * David Arnold, Times Literary Supplement *Michael Franklin has written the definitive biography of this most polymathic of men, moving with ease between the many facets of his remarkable mind. * James Mather, The Spectator *[A] readable and thorough biography...of one of the greatest polymaths in history * Andrew Robinson, The Independent *Michael Franklin has absorbed a lot of the gravitas and scholarly attention to detail of his chosen subject. * Robert Irwin, Literary Review *well worth reading * John Brockington, Translation and Literature *dynamic and definitive biography ... Franklin's portrait of Jones as a radical, republican mediator of hitherto disparate cultures is long overdue * Kurt A. Johnson, The Review of English Studies *Franklin's new biography of Jones goes much further than previous biographies ... in relating his career and his intellectual ambitions to the social and political circumstances of his time. [It] brings out many new biographical and critical insights into Jones's work and career * William Crawley, Asian Affairs *[an] admirable and engrossing biography. * The India Site *Michael Franklin has written an engaging, sympathetic, and definitive new scholarly biography of the first great British orientalist, Sir William Jones ... an impressive achievement * Peter J. Kitson, Wordsworth Circle *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Claiming Kin in Calcutta: Jones discovers the Indo-European family of languages ; 2. Persian Jones, London Welshman, surveys his roots ; 3. Druid Jones on the Carmarthen Circuit: Radicalization and Recreation on the Celtic Fringe ; 4. Impressive Patrons and Impressing Mariners ; 5. Republican Jones and the Poetry of Politics: Fragments of Liberty ; 6. Knowing India: Asiatic Researches/Recreations ; 7. Europe Falls in Love with Sakuntala ; 8. Life and Death in Calcutta: A Courtroom View of the Ethics of Empire ; 9. 'Indo-Persian' Jones and Indian Pluralism ; Select Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisOne of the most distinctive characteristics of English is the number of words and phrases it has borrowed - and continues to borrow - from other languages, originally and most notably from Latin and French but now also from every corner of the globe. From the frequently used veranda and futon to the less familiar quinquennium and catenaccio, from the longstanding in vino veritas and vade mecum to the recent doosra and galactico, this highly informative reference book provides a revealing record of that remarkable story. With 6,000 detailed entries from aa to zut, this dictionary is the authoritative guide to foreign words and phrases used in contemporary British and American English. Drawn from over 40 languages, entries provide details of the history of each word or phrase, including language of origin, spelling variants, pronunciation, and its sense and use in English. Information is given on specific items of interest, such as the use of daemon in Philip Pullman''s His Dark MaterialTrade ReviewReview from previous edition frightfully good value. Clarifies those little words and letters that so often puzzle * Express *a delight to peruse * Toby Lichtig, Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsPREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION; PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION; PRONUNCIATION GUIDE; OXFORD DICTIONARY OF FOREIGN WORDS AND PHRASES; APPENDIX

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Book SynopsisDo, or should, dictionaries control language? How do they treat language change, both now and in the past? Which words do dictionaries leave out - and on what grounds? Dictionaries are far more than works which list the words and meanings of a language. In this Very Short Introduction Lynda Mugglestone shows that all dictionaries are partial and all are selective. They are human products, reflecting the dominant social and cultural assumptions of the time in which they were written.Dictionaries exist then not only as works which seek to document language, but also as cultural documents that are connected to the world in which they were produced. Exploring common beliefs about dictionaries, providing glimpses of behind the scenes dictionary makers at work, and confronting the problems of how a word is to be defined, Mugglestone shows that dictionaries are always, and inevitably, more than the crafting of a simple list of words. Concluding with a look at the range of modern dictionaries Table of ContentsPREFACE

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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 SynopsisThe best introduction to word history ever published combines scholarship with readability. OED's chief etymologist shows how words originate and change. He explores the histories of place and personal names and explains how to use different kinds of evidence, historical as well as linguistic. This is a book for everyone interested in words.Trade ReviewThis is an immaculate work in every sense, proudly flying the banners of authority and of hegemony ... a galazy of fascinating examples ... a brilliant, addictive work indispensable for school and academic libraries at all levels, and for all with any interest in words and the enchanted patterns they weave. * H. G. A. Hughes, Reference Reviews *a very readable, informative, content-packed introduction for the beginner; for the initiated it provides an incentive to ponder the many open questions presented. As such it can be unreservedly recommended. * Elmar Seebold, Anglia *Our strong expectations of The Oxford Guide to Etymology are fully realized * Nicoline van der Sijs, Nederlandse Taalkunde *Very much to be welcomed * Paul T. Roberge, English Language and Linguistics *Table of ContentsAbout this book ; 1. Introduction ; 2. What is a Word? Which Words Need Etymologies? ; 3. Are Words Coherent Entities? ; 4. Word Formation ; 5. Lexical Borrowing ; 6. The Mechanisms of Borrowing ; 7. Change in Word Form ; 8. Semantic Change ; 9. Etymology and Names ; 10. Conclusion ; Glossary ; Suggested for Further Reading ; References ; General Index ; Index of Word Forms

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Book SynopsisThousands of years ago, seafront clans in Denmark began speaking the earliest form of Germanic language - the first of six signal events that Ruth Sanders highlights in this marvelous history of the German language. Blending linguistic, anthropological, and historical research, Sanders presents a brilliant biography of the language as it evolved across the millennia. She sheds light on the influence of such events as the bloody three-day Battle of Kalkriese, which permanently halted the incursion of both the Romans and the Latin language into northern Europe, and the publication of Martin Luther''s German Bible translation, a People''s Bible which in effect forged from a dozen spoken dialects a single German language. The narrative ranges through the turbulent Middle Ages, the spread of the printing press, the formation of the nineteenth-century German Empire which united the German-speaking territories north of the Alps, and Germany''s twentieth-century military and cultural horrors. Trade ReviewAn approachable overview of the evolution of the German language and a history of its speakers. * eLanguage *Ruth Sanders has written a biography of the German language and its speakers for the generalist and the specialist. She punctuates the broad sweep of historical recollections with vivid vignettes of daily life, and she supplements insights culled from traditional linguistic and historical research with the latest findings of genetic and archaeological studies. Ancient cultures come tantalizingly close in this engaging narrative. * Katherine R. Goodman, Brown University *An ingenious telling of just how German emerged from the primordial Germanic soup, and how many other ways it could have been. * The Economist *For any scholar of linguistics, this book offers rich material. * Organiser, New Delhi *Specialists and the intellectually curious will find here a wealth of information; the book has a very widespread appeal...An excellent bibliography and plentiful unobtrusive footnotes make this a fine reference work. This is an exhilarating and enlightening read. * Catholic Library World *Table of ContentsPreface ; Introduction: What this book covers ; Chapter One: Germanic Beginnings: Early Ancestors in Denmark ; Timeline : From the earliest settlements in northern Europe to the beginning of the Christian era ; Sidebars: ; 1. Indo-European: Protolanguage and culture ; 2. The First Sound Shift ; 3. Language contact and language change: The case of Finland ; Chapter Two: The Germanic Languages Survive the Romans: The Battle of Kalkriese ; Timeline: From the beginning of the Christian era to the end of the Western Roman Empire and the beginning of the Middle ges ; Sidebars: ; 1. The Germanic tribes ; 2. The Goths and the Gothic language ; 3. The Celts ; Chapter Three: A Fork in the Road: Germanic languages separate into Low and High ; Timeline: From the beginning of the Middle Ages to the Protestant Reformation ; Sidebars: ; 1. The Second Sound Shift ; 2. The Vikings: Raiders, traders, and neighbors ; 3. The Germanen go to England: The Anglo-Saxons and the English language ; 4. Yiddish: The creation of a new Germanic language ; Chapter Four: A perfect storm, and the birth of Standard German ; Timeline: From the beginning of the Reformation to the beginning of the First Industrial Revolution ; Sidebars: ; 1. The Thirty Years' War ; 2. The Reformation ; 3. The history of European printing ; Chapter Five: The German language gets a state ; Timeline: From the Unification of Germany to the beginning of World War I ; Sidebars: ; 1. The revolution of 1848 ; Chapter Six: Postwar Comeback Times Two: German Begins to Recover after a Fall from grace ; Timeline: From the end of World War I to the present ; Sidebars: ; 1. Spelling Reforms ; 2. Early Germanic language in a deep freeze: The case of Icelandic ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“A much-needed, comprehensive, and accessible overview of the interrelationship among these languages. . . . Throughout the book, Sanders makes a convincing argument about how languages, their perception, and even their definitions are simultaneously bound to multiple factors. Leaving out any one aspect from analysis—be it cultural or historical context, linguistic properties, the geographic or genealogical vicinity, or the mutual intelligibility between languages—would give a falsely simplified picture of the whole. . . . The Languages of Scandinavia is a welcome contribution. . . . Its strength lies in its inclusivity, and Sanders sees and describes contacts and encounters, whereas the scholarship has often focused on boundaries.” -- Ilmari Ivaska, University of Bologna * Scandinavian Studies *“This book is structured in seven chapters that tell concurrently the individual and shared histories of the titular sister languages: the five Germanic Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Icelandic, and Faroese) and the two Finno-Ugric Scandinavian languages (Finnish and Sami). Though Sanders refers to the latter group as stepsisters, the blended family analogy—maintained throughout the narrative—enhances the presentation and sharpens the dramatic impact of the storytelling. The author’s perspective is unique in that she does not separate the Germanic languages from the Finno-Ugric languages despite their originating and modern-day differences; instead she considers moments of intersection and co-development as essential to all the stories. . . . Of particular interest are the discussions of the effect of the black death on Norwegian, the parallel and divergent paths in the development of Faroese and Icelandic, Sami variants as languages or dialects, and immigrants and ‘multiethnolects’ in modern-day Scandinavia. Recommended.” * Choice *“This book focuses on contacts, colonialism, conflicts and causes of friction, and the resulting language developments from a macro perspective, investigating the Scandinavian languages from the point of view of their contacts rather than as static entities. This makes for a refreshing and pleasant read. It furthermore supplies a well-written introduction to the phonology, orthography, grammar, and linguistic varieties of each of the seven languages. It is especially laudable that Sámi and Faroese are included here, and that all ‘seven sisters’ appear on an equal footing. An extremely valuable and long-overdue overview of all the major languages spoken in Scandinavia.” -- Verena Höfig, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign“Languages are constantly in flux, but it takes a rather long view to show just what a contingent and transitory thing a language can be at any point in time. Sanders takes just such a view. . . . Her biography ranges widely over not just linguistics, but also over archaeology and genetic history to tell the story of these prolific Indo-Europeans and their languages . . . . It is an ingenious telling of just how German emerged from the primordial Germanic soup, and how many other ways it could have been. . . . This is an enjoyable yet still-scholarly read for the historian, linguist, and Germanophile alike. It would be a fine thing to have more such brief histories, made easily readable to the non-specialist, of the major world languages.” * Economist, on Sanders's "German: Biography of a Language" *"In understanding linguistic history to respond to as well as shape historical and cultural change, Sanders rightly emphasizes that the history of a language cannot be divorced from the history of its speakers and that language is embedded in a social context. What is more, linguistic history is rescued from the dusty libraries of philology and comes beautifully alive in the book when it is paired with stories of everyday life and material culture." -- Kerstin Hoge, University of Oxford * Times Literary Supplement, on Sanders's "German: Biography of a Language" *“An approachable overview of the evolution of the German language and a history of its speakers.” * eLanguage, on Sanders's "German: Biography of a Language" *“This is a book remarkable in numerous respects; remarkable not only because of the vast time frame of some 6,000 years selected for this ‘narrative,’ and not only because of the skillful and pervasively interesting manner in which the abundance of pertinent data is handled, but also because of the certainly unusual, yet all the same refreshingly captivating style which Sanders employs.” * German Politics and Society, on Sanders's "German: Biography of a Language" *"For linguists and nonlinguists alike, The Languages of Scandinavia: Seven Sisters of the North...presents an engaging overview of language development, contact, and change in Scandinavian languages." -- Lara Schwarz * Journal of Germanic Linguistics *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Introduction • Dead Man Talking 1 • Prologue to History 2 • Gemini, the Twins: Faroese and Icelandic 3 • East Is East: Heralding the Birth of Danish and Swedish 4 • The Ties That Bind: Finnish Is Visited by Swedish 5 • The Black Death Comes for Norwegian: Danish Makes a House Call 6 • Faroese Emerges 7 • Sámi, Language of the Far North: Encounters with Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish Epilogue • The Seven Sisters Now and in the Future Acknowledgments References Index

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Book SynopsisTurns cliches back into history by telling the life stories of the words that have served as our most powerful battle cries, rallying points, laments, and inspirations. This title features famous slogans and catchphrases that give voice to our common history even as we argue about where it should lead us.Trade Review"As Van Meter argues, these are important 'memory devices for a larger story.'... The author has thoroughly researched all the catchphrases.... This book would make delightful in-flight reading or a nice gift for a trivia buff. Recommended." - Choice "As the great philosopher George Santayana would have said, 'those who cannot remember the past... should simply read Jan Van Meter's Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.' Van Meter's greatest hits collection of slogans is the catchiest ever retelling of American history. It's like the greatest minds of Madison Avenue sat down to write a history book. They don't make sound bites like they used to!" - Mo Rocca, author of All the Presidents' Pets"

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