Suitable for those who needs to express themselves clearly, fluently and accurately in writing, this title helps you lead through the intricacies, problems and pleasures of the English language with wit, common sense and authority. It deals with the dangers of jargon, cliche and superfluous words.
Presents a look at the English language. From the histories of words to the word on the street, this volume examines various words in English, explores how the language changed in 2005, and gives a 'Word a Year' list for 1905 to 2005.
In this illustrated history David Crystal charts the development of the language from the earliest runic inscriptions in Old English, through the emergence of a standard variety of English between 1400 and 1800, to the most modern forms of the language in 'concrete' and 'text' poetry.
Essential reading for all international students studying for a British qualification at university, providing a clear guide to researching and producing a well presented and cohesive piece of academic writing.
The second level in the Oxford Practice Grammar series. Grammar structures are explained in detail with extended practice activities to build your confidence.
Introduces the major theories, approaches and controversies in the field and gathers together influential readings from key names in the discipline, including: John Swales, Alistair Pennycook, and Greg Myers. This work is a useful resource for students and researchers of Applied Linguistics.
Introduction to Old English is a leading text designed to help students engage with Old English literature for the first time. The 3rd edition includes numerous chapter updates, as well as expanded coverage of Old English manuscripts, runes, and other inscriptions.
Focuses on the radical changes that have taken place in the structure of English over a millennium and a half, detailing the influences of migration, colonialism and many other historical, social and cultural phenomena. This work introduces many key debates relating to the English language, illustrated by specific examples of data in context.
Theoretically adventurous and suitable for use with a wide range of language studies, Hoey's book reverses the roles of lexis and grammar to present a radical new theory of the lexicon.
Anxious about the apostrophe? Confused by the comma? Stumped by the semicolon? Join Lynne Truss on a hilarious tour through the rules of punctuation that is sure to sort the dashes from the hyphens.
Provides a brief account of the origins, history, and sense-development of a large part of the vocabulary of modern English, including both basic words and a wide selection of derivative forms.
This title is an introduction to general phonetics which explores the entire range of human sounds, systematically covering all types of modification of speech, articulation, and prosodic features. The entire range of phonetic categories is introduced in 124 "experiments".
Get stuck into this authoritative and entertaining dictionary of English idioms. Packed with over 6,000 entries from the whole of the English-speaking world, including figurative expressions, similes, sayings, and proverbs, it really is the bee's knees. Ideal for students, learners, or anyone interested in the English language.
This handy guide provides the basic information about grammar and punctuation that people need on a daily basis. Arranged in an A-Z format, the book contains entries for standard grammatical terms and deals with specific questions of usage such as the difference between 'may' and 'might' or 'that' and 'which'.
Ever find yourself struggling to remember simple facts and rules? Is the ever-increasing pace of life and glut of information challenging your memory? This is the definitive guide to help you to unjumble your mind and improve your ability to recall names, dates, facts, figures and events, and contains all the mnemonics you'll ever need to know.
This book is an accessible and authoritative A-Z that provides up-to-date definitions of over 1,600 current grammatical terms, with hundreds of useful example sentences and helpful quotations from the scholarly literature. An invaluable guide to all those interested in the English language.
This handy guide provides crystal-clear help with writing correctly and appropriately in everyday situations. Arranged alphabetically, the book contains concise entries with guidance on individual words and phrases, and longer entries on broader topics such as overused words, bullet points, and avoiding sexist language.
Suitable for Brits and Americans, this grammar-reference book offers well-crafted 'grammar lite' explanations as well as hundreds of tips and workarounds.
From the first words of an infant to the peculiar modern dialect of text messaging, this book reveals language's myriad intricacies and quirks. It sheds light on the development of unique linguistic styles, the origins of obscure accents, and the search for the first written word.
The English language is a subject of fascination for many people and is frequently the subject of lively debate in the media. In this book, Simon Horobin considers the rich history of the English language, before moving to discuss its role, status, and future.
A revised and expanded edition which has additional chapters and material. A new opening chapter discusses the concept of "grammatically correct English" and various approaches to the writing of grammar books. The book itself describes Standard English and has authentic written and spoken examples.
This superbly well-informed - and also wonderfully entertaining - history of the English language answers all these questions, showing how the many strands of English (Standard English, dialect and slang among them) developed to create the richly-varied language of today.
The Meaning of Everything is the story behind the making of the first Oxford English Dictionary. In this account of the OED's creation, Winchester introduces a host of characters, from the murderer who contributed from his prison cell to the self-taught draper's son who guided the project towards fruition.
Written specifically to help students make informed choices about their future, this book covers such topics as: identifying a career path that interests you; seeking out an opportunity that matches your skills and aspirations; staying motivated and pursuing your goals; networking; self-promotion; and, making the transition from scholar to worker.
Should you sign your text messages with an 'x'? Which of your friends do you ask to be your best man? Who are you supposed to kiss and when - and is it one kiss or two? This title offers comfort and guidance on the social pitfalls of every phase of life, from christenings to condolence letters.
This practical course book explores the development of the language from Old English to the establishment of Standard English. This third edition has been expanded to provide further background information, with a supplementary website and new sections to outline the development of writing hands and provide a brief introduction to palaeography.
Why is there an 'h' in ghost? William Caxton, inventor of the printing press and his Flemish employees are to blame: without a dictionary or style guide to hand in fifteenth century Bruges, the typesetters simply spelled it the way it sounded to their foreign cars, and it stuck. This book takes you on a journey through English spelling.