A Damp Squid: The English Language Laid Bare (Hardcover)

by Jeremy Butterfield (Author)

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Product Details

Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (Nov 30 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0199239061
ISBN-13: 978-0199239061
Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 14 x 2.3 cm
Shipping Weight: 295 g
Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
Amazon.ca Sales Rank: #145,872 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories:
#62 in Books > Nonfiction > Education > Reference > Words & Language > Etymology
#66 in Books > Reference > Words & Language > Etymology

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Product Description

From evidence contained in the world's largest language databank, Oxford Corpus, Butterfield uncovers 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. With over 2 billion words contained in the Corpus, Butterfield takes a thorough look at the English language and exposes its peculiarities and penchants, its development and difficulties, revealing exactly how it operates. Interpolating his expert knowledge of dictionary-making, Butterfield explains how dictionaries decide which words to include, how they find definitions, and how a Corpus influences the process. Covering all areas of English, from spelling to idioms, including a thoughtful chapter about the future of English, and with entertaining examples and useful charts throughout, this compelling and lively book contains something for everyone.

About the Author

Jeremy Butterfield is a freelance lexicographer who has contributed to many dictionary research programmes. He is the author of the Oxford A to Z of English Usage (2007).

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