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

Manser, Martin H./ Pickering, David (Editor)

ISBN 10: 0753824175 / ISBN 13: 9780753824177

Published by Phoenix, 2008

About this Item

268 pages. 7.75x5.00x1.00 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # __0753824175

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Secret Life of the English Language: Buttering Parsnips, Twocking Chavs
• Publisher: Phoenix
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0753824175
• ISBN 13: 9780753824177
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.26 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Fine words butter no parsnips” is an expression dating back 400 years. Twocking andchav 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 the Author

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.