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Author: Ralph Keyes Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0190466766 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 393
Book Description
"How do words get coined? That question is explored in Ralph Keyes's latest book, The Hidden History of Coined Words. Based on meticulous research, Keyes has determined that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by intention. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, he's discovered, to taunt, even to prank. Knickers resulted from a hoax, big bang from an insult. Wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few neologisms weren't even coined intentionally: they resulted from happy accidents such as typos, mistranslations, and misheard words like bigly and buttonhole, or from an unintended coinage such as Isaac Asimov's robotics. Many of the word coiners Keyes writes about come from unlikely quarters. Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just learned scholars and literary lions but cartoonists, columnists, children's authors, and children as well. Wimp, Keyes tells us, originated with an early 20th century book series on The Wymps, goop from a series about The Goops, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Competing claims to have coined terms like gonzo, mojo, and booty call are assessed, as is epic battles fought between new word partisans, and those who think we have enough words already. A concluding chapter offers pointers on how to coin a word of one's own. Written in a reader-friendly manner, The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word lovers but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone at all who is interested in a well-informed good read"--
Author: Ralph Keyes Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0190466766 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 393
Book Description
"How do words get coined? That question is explored in Ralph Keyes's latest book, The Hidden History of Coined Words. Based on meticulous research, Keyes has determined that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by intention. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, he's discovered, to taunt, even to prank. Knickers resulted from a hoax, big bang from an insult. Wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few neologisms weren't even coined intentionally: they resulted from happy accidents such as typos, mistranslations, and misheard words like bigly and buttonhole, or from an unintended coinage such as Isaac Asimov's robotics. Many of the word coiners Keyes writes about come from unlikely quarters. Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just learned scholars and literary lions but cartoonists, columnists, children's authors, and children as well. Wimp, Keyes tells us, originated with an early 20th century book series on The Wymps, goop from a series about The Goops, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Competing claims to have coined terms like gonzo, mojo, and booty call are assessed, as is epic battles fought between new word partisans, and those who think we have enough words already. A concluding chapter offers pointers on how to coin a word of one's own. Written in a reader-friendly manner, The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word lovers but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone at all who is interested in a well-informed good read"--
Author: Ralph Keyes Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 0190466782 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 320
Book Description
Successful word-coinages--those that stay in currency for a good long time--tend to conceal their beginnings. We take them at face value and rarely when and where they were first minted. Engaging, illuminating, and authoritative, Ralph Keyes's The Hidden History of Coined Words explores the etymological underworld of terms and expressions and uncovers plenty of hidden gems. He also finds some fascinating patterns, such as that successful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by design. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, originally intended to troll or taunt. Knickers, for example, resulted from a hoax; big bang from an insult. Casual wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few resulted from happy accidents, such as typos, mistranslations, and mishearing (bigly and buttonhole), or from being taken entirely out of context (robotics). Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just scholars and writers but cartoonists, columnists, children's book authors. Wimp originated with a book series, as did goop, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Coinages are often contested, controversy swirling around such terms as gonzo, mojo, and booty call. Keyes considers all contenders, while also leading us through the fray between new word partisans, and those who resist them strenuously. He concludes with advice about how to make your own successful coinage. The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word mavens but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone who loves the immersive power of language.
Author: John Ayto Publisher: A&C Black Business Information and Development ISBN: 9780713674989 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 576
Book Description
The average contemporary English speaker knows 50,000 words. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality much smaller, derived from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms (nimby), blended words (motel), and those taken from foreign languages (savoir-faire). Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language.
Author: Joseph Twadell Shipley Publisher: JHU Press ISBN: 9780801867842 Category : Foreign Language Study Languages : en Pages : 688
Book Description
There are no direct records of the original Indo-European speech. By comparing the vocabularies of its various descendants, however, it is possible to reconstruct the basic Indo-European roots with considerable confidence. In The Origins of English Words, Shipley catalogues these proposed roots and follows the often devious, always fascinating, process by which some of their offshoots have grown. Anecdotal, eclectic, and always enthusiastic, The Origins of English Words is a diverting expedition beyond linguistics into literature, history, folklore, anthropology, philosophy, and science.
Author: Elspeth King Publisher: Mainstream Publishing ISBN: Category : History Languages : en Pages : 200
Book Description
This book looks at aspects of Glasgow history which have hitherto been ignored or overlooked by most historians - the history of women in the city. Existing histories are the histories of the men who made Glasgow great: the inventors, industrialists, shipbuilders, philosophers and men of medicine. Although every schoolchild knows the legends of St Mungo, no one knows the legend of his mother St Thenew. The strong machismo culture of the west of Scotland has all but obliterated the contribution of women. St Thenew is actually Scotland's first recorded rape victim, battered woman and unmarried mother. From the time of her death in the seventh century until the present day, there is a discernable trail of oppression and violence against women. At the same time there is a history of strong and sustained resistance to persecution, achievement in the face of adversity and moral triumph in the teeth of injustice. This work deals with women, religon and the Reformation, social and political status, the fight for equal rights and the history of the Suffragettes. Because of the nature of the sources, more space is given to women who stood up and stood out - the 16th century "orray woemen" whom the town council could not control, the revolutionary Owenites and those brave women who threw bombs, burned down big houses, and went on hunger strike.
Author: John Ayto Publisher: A&C Black ISBN: 1408101602 Category : Language Arts & Disciplines Languages : en Pages : 983
Book Description
The average contemporary English speaker knows 50,000 words. Yet stripped down to its origins, this apparently huge vocabulary is in reality much smaller, derived from Latin, French and the Germanic languages. It is estimated that every year, 800 neologisms are added to the English language: acronyms (nimby), blended words (motel), and those taken from foreign languages (savoir-faire). Laid out in an A-Z format with detailed cross references, and written in a style that is both authoritative and accessible, Word Origins is a valuable historical guide to the English language.
Author: Steven Cerutti Publisher: Rampant TechPress ISBN: 0976157330 Category : English language Languages : en Pages : 222
Book Description
With uncanny scholarship and uniquely wry wit, this book is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about common word usage. Through exploring the classical roots of the English language, readers learn the origins of numerous words, many of which can be definitively tracked back to their first use. Readers also learn that many offensive words (pornographywas an ancient word for menu andfornicationwas actually an architectural term) have innocuous and humble Greek and Roman beginnings. Designed to be instructional and filled with concise information and plenty of examples, this reference will be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in learning more about the words they speak.
Author: Ralph Keyes
Author: Ralph Keyes
Author: Ralph Keyes
Author: Lynda Mugglestone
Author: John Ayto
Author: Jordan Almond
Author: Joseph Twadell Shipley
Author: Elspeth King
Author: John Ayto
Author: Edwin Radford
Author: Steven Cerutti