In this fascinating survey of everything from how sounds become speech to how names work, David Crystal answers every question you might ever have had about the nuts and bolts of language in his usual highly illuminating way. Along the way we find out about eyebrow flashes, whistling languages, how parents teach their children to speak, how politeness travels across languages and how the way we talk show not just how old we are but where we’re from and even who we want to be.
How Language Works
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About the Author
David Crystal is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. He has published over ninety books, most recently The Stories of English, and is the editor of The Penguin Encyclopaedia. In 1995, he was awarded the OBE for services to the English language. He lives in Holyhead, Anglesey.
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First Sentence
'Language', the title of this book says. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
'Language', the title of this book says. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Emma
Format:Paperback
This book provides easy going summaries of everything to do with language. Students of linguistics will find it useful as it contains a background to all the usual things included in a linguistics degree from phonology to the origins of language. Invaluable.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Jomes Spence
Format:Paperback
David Crystal describes the his preface the the what this book is. It is a collection of short essays, very clearly written, on 73 topic mostly headed "How....' They are carefully arranged but not designed for continuous reading. The essays are not "encyclopaedia entries", more overviews of the topic in hand... for example 'How Language Changes'. Students (and teachers) will find it a good starting point for a topic of interest. But there lies its weakness... It's bibliography is brief and it's index is conventional.
I tackled several of the essays which interested me. Some I followed up on Google. Others, which I casually dipped into, added to my stock of 'could come in useful' things to know. The book is worth a place on my shelves.
I tackled several of the essays which interested me. Some I followed up on Google. Others, which I casually dipped into, added to my stock of 'could come in useful' things to know. The book is worth a place on my shelves.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As with all books by David Crystal - a serious subject explained in a fascinating way and with added humour throughout - a must for all students of languages and English at school and university....
By Nel
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Be warned - the text on the pages are sooo small, trying to read it causes extreme eye strain and I constantly fall asleep trying to read it. I bought it for my uni course, but in all truth, have struggled to read enough of it to be of any use.
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Crystal has this enviable ability to explain what is fundamentally complex clearly and comprehensively. Language and languages were my professional business when working. I just wish that much of what he has to say had been available when I was still active in the field. His comments on what should be taught in schools are especially valuable as the UK at last seems to be stirring out of its linguistic imperialism and indolence. Should be required reading for all involved in teaching.
By P. Smith
Format:Paperback
Why do languages die? How are they born? How do we make speech sounds? How do we write? All these questions and many more are asked and answered in this fascinating book by one of the countries leading authorities on the english language - David Crystal.
I actually only bought this as it was on my university reading list, but I have since developed a keen interest in language and ended up buying his other book 'stories of English'!. (equally worthy of your hard earned cash)
And to the negative reviewer below; this is a book about how language works, not about how the study of language works.
I actually only bought this as it was on my university reading list, but I have since developed a keen interest in language and ended up buying his other book 'stories of English'!. (equally worthy of your hard earned cash)
And to the negative reviewer below; this is a book about how language works, not about how the study of language works.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By C. O'Connor
Format:Paperback
Really good book, bought it for a language module and it has lots of really good easy to read stuff...good value for money and good condition...thanks
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By P
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Interesting text about linguistics. Some terminology to blow your mind, and uncomfortably small print, but yet another classic from the Crystal man.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Kindle rip-off
There is no good reason for this to be more expensive on Kindle than as a paperback, even with the VAT, So there is another potential customer lost.
Published 13 months ago by Steve Marshall
1.0 out of 5 stars
What is the point of this book?
Anyone expecting to find what the blurb says on this book is in for a big disappointment. There is nothing new, no opinions to chew over just a very rushed synopsis of everything... Read more
Published on 28 April 2006 by Adelaide
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