Linguistics and Language Play / by Roger Berry.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Berry, Roger, Author.

Series:

Education Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Language and languages--Study and teaching.

Language and languages.

Applied linguistics.

Linguistics--Methodology.

Linguistics.

Language Teaching and Learning.

Language Education.

Applied Linguistics.

Research Methods in Language and Linguistics.

Local Subjects:

Language Teaching and Learning.

Language Education.

Applied Linguistics.

Research Methods in Language and Linguistics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XIII, 220 p. 7 illus.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2025.

Place of Publication:

Singapore : Springer Nature Singapore : Imprint: Springer, 2025.

Summary:

This book constitutes a comprehensive study of the field of language play from a linguistic viewpoint, demonstrating how linguistics can throw light on this important, but often under-rated, aspect of language use. It is both theoretical and descriptive in nature. In terms of the former, it proposes a ‘ludic’ function of language: that language is there to be played with, and that this is a universal feature of human activity. It rejects the traditional notion that language play is purely for ‘fun’ or entertainment and stresses the serious nature of certain ludic activities, such as cryptography. It discusses the notion of linguistic creativity, considering this to be inadequate in accounting for all aspects of language play. It assesses the value of popular terms such as ‘pun’ and introduces new terms/concepts such as ‘serendipity’ and ‘internym’ to account for important phenomena. From a descriptive viewpoint, the major portion of the book is devoted to an examination of the various linguistic levels/systems involved in language play (syntax, phonology, morphology, lexis, semantics, discourse and graphology), followed by an extensive study, based on original research, of their application in various fields of linguistic endeavour, for example, advertising, joke-telling, newspaper headlines, secret language, social interaction, etc. A consideration of the human element—in terms of the varying relationships involved—is a constant feature.

Contents:

Basic Issues in Language Play

Puns and other Terms in Language Play

Phonology in Language Play

Lexis in Language Play

Semantics in Language Play

Morphology in Language Play

Syntax in Language Play

Pragmatics, Discourse Analysis and Genre in Language Play

Graphology in Language Play

Headlines and Titles

Advertising and Naming

TV and other Comedy

Jokes and Riddles

Light Verse

Popular Song

Secret Language

Word Games, Puzzles and Parlour Games

Erroneous English

Internet Language

Playthings

Crosswords

Cross-linguistic Language Play

Language Play in Learning and Teaching .

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9789819606887

9819606888

OCLC:

1515404565