The Book of Babel: Words and the Way We See Things

Lewis, Nigel

ISBN 10: 0670830801 / ISBN 13: 9780670830800

Published by Viking, 1994

About this Item

Dispatched, from the UK, within 48 hours of ordering. This book is in good condition but will show signs of previous ownership. Please expect some creasing to the spine and/or minor damage to the cover. Damaged cover. The cover of is slightly damaged for instance a torn or bent corner.

Seller Inventory # CHL4127645

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Book of Babel: Words and the Way We See Things
• Publisher: Viking
• Publication Date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0670830801
• ISBN 13: 9780670830800
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Used; Good

About this title

Synopsis

A celebration of the confusion surrounding language, which explores the relationship between words and the world. The author examines connections between groups of seemingly unrelated words, traces the origin of words and describes the power of language to pull perception in its wake.

From Library Journal

This rich, thoughtful book studies the link between word and perception and explains the powerful, sometimes strange and beautiful workings of metaphor in language and culture. The author writes: "This book subscribes to what has been called the 'strong metaphor' theory whereby metaphor, so often treated as the product of 'fancy,' is considered to be at the psychological deep core of perception. ...[M]etaphors not only arise out of perception but are formative of it." To explore this elusive thesis, the book is organized into two roughly equal parts. The first is a collection of 52 short essays in five chapters that weave together many surprisingly colorful linguistic threads involving psychology, etymology, myth, religion, art, and literature. These essays feature a delightful set of examples of metaphorical words and phrases from many languages and cultures. The second part of the book is a selective lexicon (some 150 pages long) illustrating many of the points made in the narrative. This alphabetical list examines in some depth such words as adultery, Black Maria, Cafe coronary, gossamer, pidgin, snow, walnut, and zip-fastener. For larger collections.?Paul D'Alessandro, Portland P.L., Me.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.