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Damp Squid : The English Language Laid Bare
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Product Description
Review
This book will be irresistible to those who would really like to find out how the English language is behaving. Clearly written and informative, it is a lively guide to that most creative and challenging language, English.
--Alexander McCall Smith --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--Alexander McCall Smith --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
How many words are there in the English language and where were they born? Why does spelling 'wobble' and why do meanings change? How do words behave towards each other - and how do we behave towards words? And what does this all mean for dictionary-making in the 21st century? This entertaining book has the up-to-date and authoritative answers to all the key questions about our language. Using evidence provided by the world's largest language databank, the Oxford English Corpus, Butterfield exposes the English language's peculiarities and penchants, its development and difficulties, revealing exactly how it operates. Interpolating his expert knowledge of dictionary-making, Butterfield explains how dictionaries decide which words to include, how they find definitions, and how a Corpus influences the process. Whether you are happy to give the language free rein (free reign?), or whether you are more straight-laced (strait-laced?) when it comes to change, you will be amazed at what is revealed when the English language goes buck naked. (Or should that be butt naked?)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'll admit it - one of the main factors in my purchase of this book was the amusing title and cover art, followed by the praise one of my favourite authors on the top. But despite my hasty purchase I was far from disappointed! I'm just about to start my A levels and am interested in doing linguistics at university and I found this a great introduction to that most beautiful science. The book is written in a way that is easy to understand yet not patronising and covers all the basics such as what a corpus is and why it is so important, why spelling and meaning change and why prescriptivism is doomed to failure. Thoroughly recommended to anyone interested in English/language!
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
What have "women and sticks" to do with "cats and dogs" ? What do "which" and "want" have in common? What is a corpus, and why does it matter ? The answers to these - and many more - questions are all to be found in this gem of a book.
Jeremy Butterfield writes with wit, style and authority on the elusive mysteries of the English language - a subject to which he has dedicated the bulk of his working life. The book is a fascinating and highly informative analysis of how our language is used and how it is evolving.
Highly recommended.
Jeremy Butterfield writes with wit, style and authority on the elusive mysteries of the English language - a subject to which he has dedicated the bulk of his working life. The book is a fascinating and highly informative analysis of how our language is used and how it is evolving.
Highly recommended.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
got a thank you from my nephew for this book, so it must be good, maybe get a chance to read it myself some time!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great book
I bought this book as a Christmas present for my Dad, and he loves it. I would recommend it to others.
Published 4 months ago by can55
great browsing
if you are interested in language, this book is for you - or, in fact, anyone who can speak English!
Published on 22 Mar 2010 by Nigel Sweet
Xmas entertainment
I gave this book to my husband, who is a scientist, as a Christmas present. I was a bit doubtful whether he would enjoy it, as it is not the sort of book he would choose to read. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by Elena
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