Buttering Parsnips, Twocking Chavs: The Secret Life of the English Language - Hardcover

Manser, Martin H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0304368156 ISBN 13: 9780304368150

Publisher: Cassell, 1899

Synopsis

“Fine words butter no parsnips” is an expression dating back 400 years. Twocking and chav are popular new arrivals in the ever-growing vocabulary of British slang. What do words and phrases like these have in common, and what sets them apart? That’s what this fascinating book sets out to explore. Along the way, it illuminates the whole process of word formation and proliferation. How are new words and phrases born? What’s special about the ones that enter common usage? How do mistakes and jokes affect a word’s career? Why do some words die, never to be used again? With examples ranging from Shakespeare to text messaging, this is a browsable collection rich with amusing quotations, unusual anecdotes, and clever wordplay.

About this title

About the Author

David Pickering is an experienced reference book compiler, freelance since 1992. He has contributed (often as sole author or chief editor) to around 200 books in the fields of general reference, English language, the arts, history and popular interest. He has also broadcast many times on a variety of subjects on radio and television. He lives in Buckingham with his wife and two sons. Martin H. Manser has been a professional reference book editor since 1980. He has compiled or edited more than 150 reference books, particularly English-language dictionaries, thesauruses, and Bible reference titles. He is also a language trainer and consultant with national companies and organizations. He and his wife live in Aylesbury and have a son and a daughter.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cassell
• Publication date: 1899
• ISBN 10: 0304368156
• ISBN 13: 9780304368150
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 224
• Editor: Pickering David