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A Date with Language
Fascinating Facts, Events and Stories for Every Day of the Year
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A Date with Language
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
A collection of 366 witty and fascinating facts, events and stories about language, for every day of the year (with one extra for leap years).
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
A collection of 366 facts about language to enliven each day of the year.
In this ingenious and diverse collection of 366 stories, events and facts about language, David Crystal presents a selection of insights from literary and linguistic writers, poets and global institutions, together with the weird and wonderful creations of language enthusiasts to enliven each day of the year.
The day-by-day treatment illustrates the extraordinary breadth of the subject, from "Morse Code Day" to "Talk Like William Shatner Day", from forensic phonetics used to catch serial killers to heroines of speed reading, and covers writers from many different eras and cultures, including William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, Emily Dickinson, Toni Morrison, R. K. Narayan, Wole Soyinka and many more.
Some days focus on pronunciation, orthography, grammar or vocabulary. Others focus on the way language is used in science, religion, politics, broadcasting, publishing, the Internet and the arts. There are days that acknowledge the achievements of language study, such as in language teaching, speech therapy, deaf education and forensic science, as well as technological progress, from the humble pencil to digital software. Several days celebrate individual languages, such as those recognised as "official" by the United Nations, but not forgetting those spoken by small communities, along with their associated cultural identities.
A celebration of the remarkable creativity of all who have illuminated our understanding of language, A Date with Language is ideal for anyone wanting to add an extra point of interest to their language day.
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?
A Date with Language by David Crystal has been appreciated for its artful and meticulous approach to language. Readers value it both as a reference and as a source of enjoyment, finding each entry thoughtfully crafted and almost poetic. This slows the reader's pace, allowing for a deeper appreciation of content that blends education with pleasure.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781851246113
Publisher: Bodleian Library
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 12 October 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bodleian Library
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 234.0mm
Weight: 562g
Pages: 400
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About the Author
David Crystal is a writer, editor, lecturer and broadcaster on language, and honorary professor of linguistics at Bangor University. His many books include The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (CUP 3rd edn 2010) and two historical explorations of English vocabulary for the Bodleian Library: We Are Not Amused (2017) and That's the Ticket for Soup (2020). He lives online at www.davidcrystal.com.
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