Words in Time and Place: Exploring Language Through the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary - Hardcover

Crystal, David

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0199680477 ISBN 13: 9780199680474

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2014

Synopsis

Did you know that the English language has over 150 words for the adjective 'drunk' developed over 1,000 years? Be prepared to learn words you have never heard before, find out fascinating facts behind everyday words, and be surprised at how lively and varied the English language can be.

Published to critical acclaim in 2009, the Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary is the first comprehensive thesaurus in the world to arrange words by meaning in order of first recorded use. Using its unique perspective on how the English language has developed, Words in Time and Place takes 15 themes and explores the language in these areas over time - explaining when new words appeared, where they came from, and what such changes say about times in which they emerged. The themes chosen are varied, universal topics and show the semantic range of the thesaurus and what it can tell us about the words used in areas of everyday life. Learn about the different words for dying and money, or types of pop music, as well as words for a privy, oaths, and words for being drunk.

Written by the world's leading expert on the English language, David Crystal, the book carries his trademark style of engaging yet authoritative writing. Each chapter features an introduction to the language of that topic, followed by a timeline of vocabulary taken from the historical thesaurus showing all the synonyms arranged in chronological order. The timelines are annotated with additional quotations, facts, and social and historical context to give a clear sense of how words entered the English language, when, and in which context they were used.

Words in Time and Place showcases the unique and excellent resource that is the Historical Thesaurus and reveals the linguistic treasures to be found within. This fascinating book will appeal to anyone with an interest in words and in the development of the English language.

About this title

About the Author

David Crystal is known throughout the world as a writer, editor, lecturer and broadcaster on language. He has published extensively on the history and development of English, including The Stories of English (2004), Evolving English (2010), Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language (2010), The Story of English in 100 Words (2011), Spell It Out: The Singular Story of English Spelling (2012), and Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist's Guide to Britain (with Hilary Crystal, 2013).

Review

"Drawing on the monumental "Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English Dictionary," [Crystal] surveys the development of vocabulary relating to 15 different subjects. Word nerds will enjoy dipping into the sections on drunkenness, death and the lavatory." - The Wall Street Journal

"The words historical thesaurus may send children running to the hills, for fear they're likely to be bored to death by some fellow with a monocle. But they also describe the richest reference you've probably never heard of... And now there's [Words in Time and Place] a new book designed to introduce the masses to a treasure the English professors have been hoarding for themselves since it was published in 2009." - Time.com

"The exposition is classic Crystal, spare and charming, so the book will be accessible to a broad audience." --E. L. Battistella, Southern Oregon University, CHOICE

"The exposition is classic Crystal, spare and charming, so the book will be acessible to a broad audience. For this reviewer, the special value of the work is that it encouraged jumping into the HTOED itself, which is endlessly rewarding... Highly recommended." --CHOICE

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0199680477
• ISBN 13: 9780199680474
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 288