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A bonzer (p. 288) discussion of the strange but dinkum (p. 289) pedigree (p. 224) of the naughty (p. 202), nice (p. 212), and, sometimes, obscene (p. 217) English language. We live in a torrent of words — from radio and television, books and newspapers, and now from the internet. But, as Julian Burnside reminds us in this new edition of the bestselling Wordwatching, words are a source both of pleasure and power, and can be deployed for good or for ill.

Half the world's population speaks a language that has evolved from a single prehistoric mother tongue. First spoken in Stone Age times on the steppes of central Eurasia 6,500 years ago, this mother tongue spread from the shores of the Black Sea across almost all of Europe and much of Asia. It is the genetic basis of everything we speak and write today - the DNA of language.

An expert recognized for his uncovering the hidden, and often secret meaning of words, Kevin Hall now shares his wisdom with us all. In Aspire! he teaches readers to understand what words mean in their purest sense and unlock their importance as they develop a thoughtful new vocabulary. As...

With dazzling wit and astonishing insight, Bill Bryson—the acclaimed author of The Lost Continent—brilliantly explores the remarkable history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language. From the first descent of the larynx into the throat (why you can talk but your dog...

Cada palabra tiene su origen en una historia que sorprende por simple y desopilante. Daniel Balmaceda ha unido en este libro sus dos pasiones: la historia y la palabra. ¿De dónde surgieron términos como "abatatarse" o "boicotear"? ¿Por qué le decimos cubiertos a los utensilios que usamos para comer? ¿Por qué conocemos como jacuzzis a las bañeras con hidromasaje? La historia de las palabras es la historia de nuestra propia vida. Por eso, las palabras son muy valiosas. Si queremos sacar provecho de ellas, debemos conocerlas mejor.

From the huge response to Lost for Words, it’s clear that many of us share John’s strong feelings about the use and misuse of the English language. Not because we want to split hairs (or infinitives) but because how we use words reveals so much about the way we see the world. Here John takes...

Successful word coinage—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' The Hidden History of Coined Words explores the etymological underworld of terms and expressions and uncovers plenty of hidden gems.

Centuries ago in middle Europe, a coded language appeared, scrawled in graffiti and spoken only by people in the know. This hybrid language, dubbed Rotwelsch, facilitated survival for people in flight - whether escaping persecution or just down on their luck. It was a language of the road associated with vagabonds, travelers, Jews, and thieves that blended words from Yiddish, Hebrew, German, Romani, Czech, and other European languages and was rich in expressions for police, jail, or experiencing trouble, such as being in a pickle. This renegade language unsettled those in power.

In its long history, the English language has had many lawmakers - those who have tried to regulate or otherwise organize the way we speak. The Lexicographer's Dilemma poses a pair of questions: What does proper English mean? And who gets to say what's right? Our ideas of correct or proper English have a history, and today's debates over the state of the language - whether about Ebonics in schools, the unique use of language in a South Park episode, or split infinitives in the Times - make sense only in historical context.

After 40 years of making a living using words in every medium, print or electronic, Roy Blount Jr. still can't get over his ABCs. In Alphabet Juice, he celebrates the juju, the sonic and kinetic energies of letters and their combinations. Blount does not prescribe proper English. The franchise he claims is "over the counter" and concentrates more on questions such as these: Did you know that both mammal and matter derive from baby talk? Have you noticed how wince makes you wince?

In the same engaging style and humor that has attracted 4.5 million downloads of the Podictionary podcast, Global Wording traces the development of our language using easily recognizable milestones such as Beowulf, William the Conqueror, Chaucer and Shakespeare. Rather than relying on scores of...

Like the flesh-and-blood humans whose uncensored emotions it represents, slang's obsessions are sex, the body and its functions, and intoxication: drink and drugs. Slang does not do kind. It's about hatreds - both intimate and national - about the insults that follow on, the sneers and the put-downs. Caring, sharing and compassion? Not at this address. There are over 10,000 terms focusing on sex, but love? Not one.

A page-turning, existential romp through the life and times of the world’s most polarizing punctuation mark The semicolon. Stephen King, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and Orwell detest it. Herman Melville, Henry James, and Rebecca Solnit love it. But why? When is it effective? Have we been misusing it?...

It is True Dickinson's forty-third birthday, and her best friends have gathered on this snowy night in Cape Cod at a trendy neighborhood restaurant to celebrate. True has never felt more alone. It's been eight years since the death of her husband, leaving her to raise their son on her own. Both...

A history and examination of cursing, swearing, whatever you want to effing call it! Is it useful? Is it effective?

Was die deutsche Sprache kann! Ein geflügeltes Wort sagt, das Leben sei zu kurz, um Deutsch zu lernen. Ganz falsch! In diesem Hörbuch zeigt Roland Kaehlbrandt anhand von zehn sympathischen und handfesten Vorzügen, wie gut die deutsche Sprache tatsächlich gebaut und wie zugänglich sie deshalb ist. Praktische Beispiele und viel Humor begleiten uns auf diesem kenntnisreichen Streifzug durch die liebenswerten und nützlichen Eigenschaften einer alten und zugleich hochlebendigen, wunderschönen Sprache. Ein Hörbuch, das uns ganz und gar verzaubern wird!

‘Beautiful, thought-provoking, and compelling' SUSIE DENT 'Punchy and persuasive' SUNDAY TIMES ________________________________ As Sophia Smith Galer’s Nonna lay dying, she realised it wasn’t just a beloved grandmother she was losing – it was the language she spoke, too. From Northern...

Welcome to the latest word on atrocious English, from wierd – er, weird – spelling to idiotomatic expressions to modest proposals for change, wherein we tackle such pressing contemporary English language issues.

We adapt words from other languages, from slang, from developments in science, literature and art. Learn the advantages of having your own signature word; why the lifts in the House of Commons have posh accents; and discover the discreet art of the loophemism. Do you know your geek-speak from your geek-chic? Ever wanted to put Humpty Dumpty together again? Can you distinguish Spanglish from Chinglish?

What does Jane Austen mean when she writes approvingly of a character's 'gentility' and ‘delicacy’, or critically of another's 'indolence' and 'impertinence’? What are her characters doing when they take the measure of a person's 'air' and 'address'? These questions and more are answered in this Janeite treasure trove, which examines the distinctive language woven through Austen’s signature stories. Maria Frawley takes 50 of those words - words that are integral to the fabric of Austen's fiction - and explores them in short, accessible and lively entries.