A Little Book of Language [[electronic resource]]

• Record Nr.: UNINA9910460233003321
• Autore: Crystal David
• Pubbl/distr/stampa: Sydney, : University of NSW Press, 2010
• ISBN: 1-74223-198-5
• Descrizione fisica: 1 online resource (272 p.)
• Disciplina: 400
• Soggetti: Language and languages; Electronic books.
• Lingua di pubblicazione: Inglese
• Formato: Materiale a stampa
• Livello bibliografico: Monografia
• Note generali: Description based upon print version of record.
• Nota di contenuto: Contents; Baby-talk; From cries to words; Learning how to understand; Making vibrations; Pronouncing sounds; Discovering grammar; Having a conversation; Learning to read and write; Getting to grips with spelling; Spelling rules and variations; Grammar rules and variations; Accents and dialects; Being bilingual; The languages of the world; The origins of speech; The origins of writing; Modern writing; Sign language; Comparing languages; Dying languages; Language change; Language variation; Language at work; Slang; Dictionaries; Etymology; Place names; Personal names; The electronic revolution; TextingLanguage at play; Untitled; Language for feelings; Political correctness; Language in literature; Developing a style; The complexity of language; Linguistics; Applied linguistics; Your language world; Index
• Sommario/riassunto: With a language disappearing every two weeks and neologisms springing up almost daily, an understanding of the origins and currency of language has never seemed more relevant. In this charming volume, a narrative history written explicitly for a young audience, expert linguist David Crystal proves why the story of language deserves retelling. From the first words of an infant to the peculiar modern dialect of text messaging, A Little Book of Language ranges widely, revealing language's myriad intricacies and quirks.