Word Histories and Mysteries

Did you know that cats are related etymologically to caterpillars? Or that Thomas Edison played a key role in popularizing the use of the greeting "Hello"? Or that muscles were originally mice, since a flexed biceps looks like a little rodent scurrying under the skin? Word Histories and Mysteries provides a panoramic view of the unique richness of English, uncovering the origins of five hundred everyday words whose surprising and often amusing stories offer insights into the history of humankind. Arranged in convenient alphabetical order, the notes are written in a lively and entertaining style perfect for browsing. The reader can learn how some of the most recent words, such as the computer term wiki, were coined, or trace the origins of English back to the Indo-European language spoken long before the invention of writing. A short introduction outlines the techniques linguists use to trace the history of words, and a handy glossary explains the linguistic terms that describe the ways in which language changes over time. Photographs and drawings help familiarize the reader with the ancient objects or cultural practices from which our words have sprung. Fascinating and fun to read, Word Histories and Mysteries is an ideal gift for high school or college students interested in language and for anyone who wants to know more about the curious sounds we make to communicate every day.

Dettagli sul prodotto

• Autori: Editors of the American Heritage Di
• Con la collaborazione di: Editors American Heritage Dictionaries (Editore), Editors of the American Heritage Diction (Editore), Houghton Mifflin Company (Editore)
• Editore: Collins US
• Lingue: Inglese
• Formato: Tascabile
• Pubblicazione: 13.10.2004
• EAN: 9780618454501
• ISBN: 978-0-618-45450-1
• Pagine: 368
• Dimensioni: 140 mm x 210 mm x 20 mm
• Categorie: Saggistica; Scienze umane, arte, musica > Scienze linguistiche e letterarie > Altre lingue / altre letterature; Language: reference and general, Language learning: grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation, Semantics, discourse analysis, stylistics, Historical and comparative linguistics, HISTORY: General, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES: Grammar & Punctuation, REFERENCE: Dictionaries, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES: Linguistics / Etymology, REFERENCE: Word Lists, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES: Linguistics / Semantics, learn to read;education;linguistics;2003;2004;2005