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Kidnapping, attempted assassination, espionage...not the answers you'd expect to the question 'what happens when you become a linguist?' But now, reflecting on a long and hugely successful career at the forefront of the field of English Language and Linguistics, David Crystal answers this question and offers us a special look behind the scenes at the adventures, rewards, challenges and pitfalls of his life in language. Both an autobiography and a highly accessible introduction to the field of linguistics, Just a Phrase I'm Going Through illuminates and entertains us with its many insights into the ever-fascinating subject of language. David Crystal is synonymous with language, both as a great populariser and linguistic pioneer, and his contribution to the field is unparalleled. Thisaudio book isnot just for students andteachers but for all lovers of language. 4 discs. Running time: 5 hours approx. Abridged.
List of contents
Contents Prologue 1 Being a linguist 2 A semilingual start 3 New worlds 4 Liverpool school 5 Extra-curricular acts 6 Learning, and not learning, about language 7 Becoming academic 8 Surveying 9 Worlds within worlds10 Becoming professional 11 The sexy subject 12 Meeting a need 13 Choices and consequences 14 Meetings and meetings 15 Looking for remedies 16 Why did you resign?17 The encyclopedia game18 Schizoid man19 Busyness and business Epilogue
About the author
David Crystal is honorary professor of linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. He has written or edited over 1 books and published numerous articles for scholarly, professional, and general readerships, in fields ranging from forensic linguistics and ELT to the liturgy and Shakespeare. His books include the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (2nd edn 1997), the Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language (2nd edn 2003), Words, Words, Words (OUP 2006), and The Fight for English (OUP 2006).
Summary
Kidnapping, attempted assassination, espionage…not the answers you’d expect to the question ‘what happens when you become a linguist?’
But now, reflecting on a long and hugely successful career at the forefront of the field of English Language and Linguistics, David Crystal answers this question and offers us a special look behind the scenes at the adventures, rewards, challenges and pitfalls of his life in language.
Both an autobiography and a highly accessible introduction to the field of linguistics, Just a Phrase I’m Going Through illuminates and entertains us with its many insights into the ever-fascinating subject of language.
David Crystal is synonymous with language, both as a great populariser and linguistic pioneer, and his contribution to the field is unparalleled. This audio book is not just for students and teachers but for all lovers of language.
4 discs. Running time: 5 hours approx. Abridged.
Additional text
I have never met anyone who is as passionate about the English language as David Crystal, he understands its history and its possibilities better than anyone else in my world, and there is no better way to understand his world than reading this book. An incredible human as Linguist.
Anyone who is fascinated with dictionaries is fascinated with life, anyone who is fascinated with life is simply fascinating. David Crystal's life and work is absolutely fascinating.
He's done the story of English, now here's the story of him. David Crystal and words, they go together so well.
There's something very moving about reading how David Crystal got where he is today. We know of his passion for language now here is his passion for life. Jazz, theatre, travel, and sexy linguistics, there's so much here.
If David Crystal is going through a phrase I want to go through it with him. He is a fundamental part of the language I speak, and this insight into the making of the man is personal, honest, and sometimes funny. He rocks.
There's so much I wanted to know about David Crystal, not anymore.
In his books, in his talks, and in his lectures, David Crystal has gone beyond the call of duty in sharing his passion for language we us, but now it gets personal. He's not your average academic.
David Crystal loves and appreciates every word he speaks, and every word written in this book helps us to understand someone who is not just a great linguist, but a true champion and lover of language.
Benjamin Zephaniah
Report
I have never met anyone who is as passionate about the English language as David Crystal, he understands its history and its possibilities better than anyone else in my world, and there is no better way to understand his world than reading this book. An incredible human as Linguist. Anyone who is fascinated with dictionaries is fascinated with life, anyone who is fascinated with life is simply fascinating. David Crystal's life and work is absolutely fascinating. He's done the story of English, now here's the story of him. David Crystal and words, they go together so well. There's something very moving about reading how David Crystal got where he is today. We know of his passion for language now here is his passion for life. Jazz, theatre, travel, and sexy linguistics, there's so much here. If David Crystal is going through a phrase I want to go through it with him. He is a fundamental part of the language I speak, and this insight into the making of the man is personal, honest, and sometimes funny. He rocks. There's so much I wanted to know about David Crystal, not anymore. In his books, in his talks, and in his lectures, David Crystal has gone beyond the call of duty in sharing his passion for language we us, but now it gets personal. He's not your average academic. David Crystal loves and appreciates every word he speaks, and every word written in this book helps us to understand someone who is not just a great linguist, but a true champion and lover of language. Benjamin Zephaniah
