A little book of language / David Crystal.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Crystal, David, 1941-

Series:

Little Histories

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language and languages.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (288 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New Haven : Yale University Press, c2010.

Language Note:

English

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 Language ranges 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 Language will reveal the story of language to be a captivating tale for all ages.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

1. Baby-talk

2. From Cries to Words

3. Learning How to Understand

4. Making Vibrations

5. Pronouncing Sounds

6. Discovering Grammar

7. Having a Conversation

8. Learning to Read and Write

9. Getting to Grips with Spelling

10. Spelling Rules and Variations

11. Grammar Rules and Variations

12. Accents and Dialects

13. Being Bilingual

14. The Languages of the World

15. The Origins of Speech

16. The Origins of Writing

17. Modern Writing

18. Sign Language

19. Comparing Languages

20. Dying Languages

21. Language Change

22. Language Variation

23. Language at Work

24. Slang

25. Dictionaries

26. Etymology

27. Place Names

28. Personal Names

29. The Electronic Revolution

30. Texting

31. Language at Play

32. Why Use Language?

33. Language for Feelings

34. Political Correctness

35. Language in Literature

36. Developing a Style

37. The Complexity of Language

38. Linguistics

39. Applied Linguistics

40. Your Language World

Index

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-300-15875-0

OCLC:

657069132