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Dent's Modern Tribes
The Secret Languages of Britain
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Check link for latest rating. ( 472 ratings, 45 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Learn how to decode the private languages that are swapped around us every day - amongst cabbies and paramedics, soap stars and comedians, cricketers and barristers - in Susie Dent's unique and witty guide to Britain's modern tribes.
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Description
Did you know that a soldier's biggest social blunder is called jack brew—making yourself a cuppa without making one for anyone else? That twitchers have an expression for a bird that can't be identified—LBJ (the letters stand for Little Brown Job)? Or that builders call plastering the ceiling doing Lionel Richie's dancefloor? Susie Dent does.
Ever wondered why football managers all speak the same way, what a cabbie calls the Houses of Parliament, or how ticket inspectors discreetly request back-up? We are surrounded by hundreds of tribes, each speaking their own distinct slanguage of colourful words, jokes and phrases, honed through years of conversations on the battlefield, in A&E, backstage, or at ten-thousand feet in the air.
Susie Dent has spent years interviewing hundreds of professionals, hobbyists and enthusiasts, and the result is an idiosyncratic phrasebook like no other. From the Freemason's handshake to the publican's banter, Dent's Modern Tribes takes us on a whirlwind tour of Britain, decoding its secret languages and, in the process, finds out what really makes us all tick.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Dent's Modern Tribes by Susie Dent is praised for its entertaining and insightful exploration of the unique languages and jargon of various groups. It's considered a delightful and witty read, full of fascinating facts and linguistic insights, and has been described as both informative and humorous. Many reviewers find it a must-read for those who love words, appreciating Dent's ability to make language come alive with her clever observations and charming style.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781473623897
Publisher: John Murray Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 05 October 2017
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: John Murray Publishers Ltd
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 20.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 238g
Pages: 336
About the Author
Susie Dent is the resident word expert in Dictionary Corner on C4's Countdown and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. She comments regularly on TV and radio on words in the news, and has contributed to Woman's Hour, 15 x 15, Word of Mouth, More or Less, Today, BBC Breakfast, and R4's Wordaholics.. Susie is the author of several books, and has weekly columns in both the Radio Times and the website Mental Floss.
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