Author Description
The Blackout Crew have a song with the title 'Put a donk on it' - but what is a 'donk'? Which ending came first: '-ise' or '-ize'? Where does the idea of a 'white elephant' come from? Who decides on the collective noun for something? And what is it that made the crocodile cry? Sparkling with insight and linguistic curiosity, this delightful compendium answers 101 of the most intriguing questions about the English language, from word origins and spelling to grammar and usage. Irresistible to anyone with an interest in the words around them. Supported by Oxford's celebrated dictionary research programme, Susie Dent tackles these and many other fascinating questions in this wonderfully accessible and endlessly entertaining exploration of the English language.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the origins, evolution, and peculiar quirks of the English language by addressing 101 specific inquiries from curious readers. Susie Dent, a renowned lexicographer and long-time contributor to Oxford dictionary research, utilizes her extensive background in linguistic study to clarify common misconceptions and historical oddities. The text serves as a structured repository of etymological facts, grammatical rules, and usage patterns, presented through a framework of accessible, bite-sized answers to everyday questions about vocabulary and idioms.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Etymological origins of common idioms and phrases
- Historical analysis of spelling variations such as -ise versus -ize
- Explanations of collective nouns and their development
- Insights derived from the Oxford dictionary research programme
Scope Limits
- The book does not provide a comprehensive history of the English language
- It does not function as a formal academic textbook or a prescriptive grammar guide
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Readers frequently note the accessible and engaging nature of the prose, which makes complex linguistic history easy to digest. Experts highlight this as a reliable, lighthearted resource for those interested in the mechanics of English without the burden of dense academic jargon.
Page Count:
172
Publication Date:
2009-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191650609
ISBN-13:
9780191650604
Non-Fiction
Etymology
Linguistics
Grammar
Reference