A Little Book of Language

by David Crystal

• ISBN13: 9780300170825
• ISBN10: 0300170823
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2011-04-26
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

With a language disappearing every two weeks and neologisms springing up almost daily, an understanding of the origins and currency of language has never seemed more relevant. In this charming volume, a narrative history written explicitly for a young audience, expert linguist David Crystal proves why the story of language deserves retelling. From the first words of an infant to the peculiar modern dialect of text messaging,A Little Book of Languageranges widely, revealing language's myriad intricacies and quirks. In animated fashion, Crystal sheds light on the development of unique linguistic styles, the origins of obscure accents, and the search for the first written word. He discusses the plight of endangered languages, as well as successful cases of linguistic revitalization. Much more than a history, Crystal's work looks forward to the future of language, exploring the effect of technology on our day-to-day reading, writing, and speech. Through enlightening tables, diagrams, and quizzes, as well as Crystal's avuncular and entertaining style,A Little Book of Languagewill reveal the story of language to be a captivating tale for all ages.

Author Biography

David Crystal is one of the world's preeminent language specialists. Writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster, he is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. He has written nearly 100 books, including The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of the English Language, By Hook or By Crook: A Journey in Search of English, Txtng: The Gr8 Db8, The Stories of English, and Rediscover Grammar, and has published widely on phonetics, Shakespeare's language, and child language. In 1995 he was awarded the OBE for services to the English language. He lives in Holyhead, UK.

Table of Contents

Baby-Talk	p. 1
From Cries to Words	p. 6
Learning How to Understand	p. 14
Making Vibrations	p. 21
Pronouncing Sounds	p. 28
Discovering Grammar	p. 34
Having a Conversation	p. 40
Learning to Read and Write	p. 45
Getting to Grips with Spelling	p. 52
Spelling Rules and Variations	p. 58
Grammar Rules and Variations	p. 65
Accents and Dialects	p. 71
Being Bilingual	p. 78
The Languages of the World	p. 84
The Origins of Speech	p. 92
The Origins of Writing	p. 98
Modern Writing	p. 104
Sign Language	p. 112
Comparing Languages	p. 118
Dying Languages	p. 125
Language Change	p. 131
Language Variation	p. 138
Language at Work	p. 145
Slang	p. 151
Dictionaries	p. 157
Etymology	p. 163
Place Names	p. 169
Personal Names	p. 176
The Electronic Revolution	p. 183
Texting	p. 189
Language at Play	p. 195
Why use Language?	p. 201
Language for Feelings	p. 209
Political Correctness	p. 215
Language in Literature	p. 221
Developing a Style	p. 227
The Complexity of Language	p. 233
Linguistics	p. 239
Applied Linguistics	p. 244
Your Language World	p. 250
Index	p. 255
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