How Language Works: How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning, and Languages Live or Die
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Book Overview
Steven Pinker meets Bill Bryson in this landmark exploration of language. In the author's own words, "How Language Works is not about music, cookery, or sex. But it is about how we talk about music, cookery, and sex-or, indeed, anything at all." Language is so fundamental to everyday life that we take it for granted. But as David Crystal makes clear in this work of unprecedented scope, language is an extremely powerful tool that defines the human species. Crystal offers general readers a personal tour of the intricate workings of language. He moves effortlessly from big subjects like the origins of languages, how children learn to speak, and how conversation works to subtle but revealing points such as how email differs from both speech and writing in important ways, how language reveals a person's social status, and how we decide whether a word is rude or polite. Broad and deep, but with a light and witty touch, How Language Works is the ultimate layman's guide to how we communicate with one another.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:158333291X
ISBN13:9781583332917
Release Date:November 2007
Publisher:Penguin Publishing Group
Length:512 Pages
Weight:1.26 lbs.
Dimensions:1.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"
Age Range:18 years and up
Grade Range:Grade 12 and higher
Related Subjects
Education & Reference Humanities Language Arts Linguistics Words, Language & GrammarCustomer Reviews
5 ratings
One more step towards clarity
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
We may all have an instinct for language but we can enjoy our use and perception of language far more with the help of such an astute observer and analyst as David Crystal. For anyone interested in using spoken-written language to convey meaning to other people, How Language Works, is well worth having read. I had to put forth more than ordinary effort to read this wonderful book, but I believe I have been well rewarded.
On what we say-in so many words.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
The book was easy to read and relaxingly informative-I learnt a lot,David Crystal shows how linguistics and language should be discussed once again.
A Readable Reference Book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This book is arranged in chapters that can stand alone or be read as a volume. Chapters are divided into sub chapters which similarly stand alone or can be read as a cohesive work of prose. While the author is British, the emphasis is universal. The British influence shows the most in the discussion of dialects. The articles vary from being anecdotal to factually meaty. The chapters on vocabulary show how vocabulary is learned with great anecdotes and factual backup. Like Crystal, I think that this is a very much neglected area of language learning. I like that he uses interesting sentences and words for examples. Too often books on linguistics provide dull stilted examples.
great product
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
This was in perfect condition and arrived in time for Christmas. Thanks
How Language Works is highly recommended.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
How Language Works: How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning, And Languages Live Or Die by expert linguist David Crystal is a comprehensive guide written for lay readers and linguistic scholars alike to how language develops and evolves, both in individuals and in societies. In addition to chronicling how new languages are created from the mixing of cultures, and surveying the process of how languages die, How Language Works also makes an impassioned plea to protect and sustain as many languages as possible in a modern world beset with the threat of literally thousands of human languages on the verge of extinction. Championing languages as facets of intellectual and cultural diversity as well as miracles of science and nature, How Language Works is highly recommended.
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