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Don't believe a word : the surprising truth about language / David Shariatmadari.

Do not believe a word (other title)

Summary:

"Everyone likes to think they know a bit about language: There are some words that you simply can't translate into English. The origin of a word tells you how it should be used. A dialect is inferior to a language. The problem is, none of these statements are true. In Don't Believe a Word, linguist David Shariatmadari explodes nine common myths about language and introduces us to some of the fundamental insights of modern linguistics. By the end of this eye- opening tour, readers will understand that grammatical "errors" are in fact the foundation of modern English; that the meaning of a word is not what a dictionary says, but how it's used; and that the difference between what gets labelled a "language" or "dialect" is political, rather than scientific. Don't Believe a Word offers an accessible and thorough introduction to the science behind one of the most essential aspects of our daily life"-- Provided by publisher.

Record details

  • ISBN: 1324004258
  • ISBN: 9781324004257
  • Physical Description: 324 pages ; 24 cm
  • Edition: First American edition
  • Publisher: New York : W. W. Norton & Company, 2020.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Language is going to the dogs -- A word's origin is its true meaning -- I control what comes out of my mouth -- We can't talk to the animals -- You can't translate this word -- Italian is a language -- What you say is what you mean -- Some languages are better than others -- Language is an instinct.
Subject:
Historical linguistics.
Language and languages.
Language and languages > Origin.
Linguistics.

Available copies

  • 6 of 6 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Iredell County Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 6 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Statesville Main Library 401 SHA (Text) 33114018276568 Adult Nonfiction Display Available -

Accessibility Features

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1001 . ‡aShariatmadari, David, ‡eauthor. ‡0(CARDINAL)814702
24510. ‡aDon't believe a word : ‡bthe surprising truth about language / ‡cDavid Shariatmadari.
2463 . ‡aDo not believe a word
250 . ‡aFirst American edition
264 1. ‡aNew York : ‡bW. W. Norton & Company, ‡c2020.
264 4. ‡c©2019
300 . ‡a324 pages ; ‡c24 cm
336 . ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent
337 . ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia
338 . ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier
504 . ‡aIncludes bibliographical references and index.
5050 . ‡aLanguage is going to the dogs -- A word's origin is its true meaning -- I control what comes out of my mouth -- We can't talk to the animals -- You can't translate this word -- Italian is a language -- What you say is what you mean -- Some languages are better than others -- Language is an instinct.
520 . ‡a"Everyone likes to think they know a bit about language: There are some words that you simply can't translate into English. The origin of a word tells you how it should be used. A dialect is inferior to a language. The problem is, none of these statements are true. In Don't Believe a Word, linguist David Shariatmadari explodes nine common myths about language and introduces us to some of the fundamental insights of modern linguistics. By the end of this eye- opening tour, readers will understand that grammatical "errors" are in fact the foundation of modern English; that the meaning of a word is not what a dictionary says, but how it's used; and that the difference between what gets labelled a "language" or "dialect" is political, rather than scientific. Don't Believe a Word offers an accessible and thorough introduction to the science behind one of the most essential aspects of our daily life"-- ‡cProvided by publisher.
650 0. ‡aHistorical linguistics. ‡0(CARDINAL)351267
650 0. ‡aLanguage and languages. ‡0(CARDINAL)243958
650 0. ‡aLanguage and languages ‡xOrigin. ‡0(CARDINAL)330827
650 0. ‡aLinguistics. ‡0(CARDINAL)244571
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