Author: John McWhorter Publisher: Penguin ISBN: 1592404944 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 258
Book Description
A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar Why do we say “I am reading a catalog” instead of “I read a catalog”? Why do we say “do” at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century ad, John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor. Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English— and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for (and no, it’s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition).
Author: Publisher: ISBN: 9780999220207 Category : Languages : en Pages : 48
Book Description
Set in modern central Asia, the first chapter of Tongues introduces a captive deity and the eagle who is his jailor, a young man lost in a wilderness and a girl on a journey to carry out a murder.
Author: Dan Crowley Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc. ISBN: 1402251041 Category : Humor Languages : en Pages : 354
Book Description
Following up his hit 505 Unbelievably Stupid Web Pages, Dan Crowley again takes on the Web's weirdest and wildest in 505 Weirdest Online Stores. This is the ultimate guide to the Internet's strangest stores, where you can spend your time and money in pursuit of dehydrated water, duct tape fashion and a corporate hairball. For all those who love eBay but are tired of products that have actual uses, check out these sites: The Childhood Goat Trauma Foundation (www.goat-trauma.org) Political Talking Action Figures (www.prankplace.com/politics.htm) Lunar Land Owner (www.lunarlandowner.com) Air Sickness Bags (www.airsicknessbags.com) Michael Jackson Artwork (www.helenakadlcikova.com/michael_jackson.htm)
Author: John McWhorter
Author: 
Author: William Willymott
Author: William WILLYMOTT
Author: William WILLYMOTT
Author: William WILLYMOTT
Author: 
Author: Alvin Silverstein
Author: 
Author: Dan Crowley