A Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare

ISBN 10: 0199239061
ISBN 13: 9780199239061
Author: Jeremy Butterfield
Edition: 1
Release: 2008-12-13
Format: Hardcover (176 pages)
List Price: $19.95
Tags: Reference, General, Dictionaries & Thesauruses, English (British), General AAS, Words & Language

Featured Bookstore

Used

$11.72

New

$10.00

Book Description: When James Murray compiled the OED in the 19th century, he used a small army of volunteers--and thousands upon thousands of paper slips--to track down the English language. Today, linguists use massive computer power--including the world's largest language databank, the Oxford Corpus, which contains more than two billion words--to determine for the first time definitively how the English language is used. From evidence contained in the gargantuan Oxford Corpus, Jeremy Butterfield here uncovers a wealth of fascinating facts about the English language. Where does our vocabulary come from? How do word meanings change? How is our language really being used? This entertaining book has the up-to-date and authoritative answers to all the key questions about our language. Butterfield takes a thorough look at the English language and exposes its peculiarities and penchants, its development and difficulties, revealing exactly how it operates. We learn, for instance, that we use language in chunks of words--as one linguist put it, "we know words by the company that they keep." For instance, the word quintessentially is joined half the time with a nationality--something is "quintessentially American" or "quintessentially British." Likewise, in comparing eccentric with quirky, the Corpus reveals that eccentric almost always appears in reference to people, as an "eccentric uncle," while quirky usually refers to the actions of people, as in "quirky behavior." Using such observations, Butterfield explains how dictionary makers decide which words to include, how they find definitions, and how the Corpus influences the process. Covering all areas of English, from spelling and idioms to the future of English, and with entertaining examples and useful charts throughout, this compelling and lively book will delight word lovers everywhere.

Summary of Lowest Prices				Sort By: Price Condition
Seller	Condition	Price	Shipping	Details	Total
	Used	$8.00	$3.99	Details	$11.99	View All Used
	New	$8.63	$3.99	Details	$12.62	View All New
	Rental	$11.99	$5.49	Details	$17.48	View All Rental

Used Books
Seller	Price	Shipping	Details	Availability	Total
	$8.00	$3.99	Details	Ready to ship	$11.99
	$10.00	$3.75	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$13.75
	$11.72	$3.49	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$15.21
	$11.45	$3.98	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$15.43
	$11.95	$3.75	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$15.70
	$15.83	$3.99	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$19.82
	$25.53	$3.65	Details	Ships 3 Days or More	$29.18

New Books
Seller	Price	Shipping	Details	Availability	Total
	$8.63	$3.99	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$12.62
	$10.00	$3.49	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$13.49
	$9.98	$3.99	Details	Ready to ship	$13.97
	$10.71	$3.99	Details	Ships 3 Days or More	$14.70
	$11.72	$3.99	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$15.71
	$11.84	$3.95	Details	Ready to ship	$15.79
	$11.84	$3.97	Details	Ships 3 Days or More	$15.81
	$15.98	Free	Details	Ready to ship	$15.98
	$12.14	$3.99	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$16.13
	$13.54	$3.97	Details	In Stock	$17.51
	$13.63	$3.96	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$17.59
	$13.82	$3.97	Details	Ready to ship	$17.79
	$16.82	$0.99	Details	Ready to ship	$17.81
	$14.96	$3.65	Details	Ships 3 Days or More	$18.61
	$17.05	$3.99	Details	Ready to ship	$21.04
	$19.95	$3.50	Details	Ships 2-3 days	$23.45
See 6 More New Titles >>

Book Rental
Seller	Price	Shipping	Details	Availability	Total
	$11.99	$5.49	Details	Ready to ship	$17.48