{"product_id":"wordslut-by-amanda-montell-9780062868886","title":"Wordslut","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“As funny as it is informative, this book will have you laughing out loud while you contemplate the revolutionary power of words.” —Camille Perri, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Assistants\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWhen Katie Met Cassidy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA brash, enlightening, and wildly entertaining work of pop linguistics and a feminist look at gendered language and the way it shapes us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe word \u003ci\u003ebitch\u003c\/i\u003e conjures many images, but it is most often meant to describe an unpleasant woman. Even before its usage to mean “a female canine,” \u003ci\u003ebitch\u003c\/i\u003e didn’t refer to women at all—it originated as a gender-neutral word for “genitalia.” A perfectly innocuous word devolving into an insult directed at females is the case for tons more terms, including \u003ci\u003ehussy\u003c\/i\u003e, which simply meant “housewife”; and \u003ci\u003eslut\u003c\/i\u003e, which meant “an untidy person” and was also used to describe men. These are just a few of history’s many English slurs hurled at women.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmanda Montell, reporter and feminist linguist, deconstructs language—from insults, cursing, gossip, and catcalling to grammar and pronunciation patterns—to reveal the ways it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalised genders from power. Ever wonder why so many people are annoyed when women speak with vocal fry or use \u003ci\u003elike\u003c\/i\u003e as filler? Or why certain gender-neutral terms stick and others don’t? Or where stereotypes of how women and men speak come from in the first place?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMontell effortlessly moves between history, science, and popular culture to explore these questions—and how we can use the answers to affect real social change. Her irresistible humour shines through, making the field of sociolinguistics not only approachable but downright hilarious and profound. \u003ci\u003eWordslut\u003c\/i\u003e gets to the heart of our language, marvels at its elasticity, and sheds much-needed light on the sexism in language and the biases that shadow women in our culture and our consciousness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis hilarious and whip-smart journey into the field of sociolinguistics uncovers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eGendered Insults:\u003c\/b\u003e Discover the surprising and often shocking origins of slurs like \u003ci\u003eslut\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ehussy\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003ebitch\u003c\/i\u003e—and what it means to reclaim them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eVocal Fry and Uptalk:\u003c\/b\u003e Unpack the real linguistic power behind so-called \"annoying\" speech habits, from vocal fry to using \u003ci\u003elike\u003c\/i\u003e as a filler, and learn why young women are linguistic innovators.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLanguage and Power:\u003c\/b\u003e Explore how everything from catcalling to grammar rules has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalised genders away from power.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFeminist Linguistics:\u003c\/b\u003e Arm yourself with the hilarious and profound insights of a feminist linguist who makes complex topics not only approachable but laugh-out-loud funny.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47398092701932,"sku":"9780062868886","price":56.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9892963482210.jpg?v=1773741906","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/wordslut-by-amanda-montell-9780062868886","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}