How to Read a Word

by Elizabeth Knowles

Overview

Have you ever wondered how you can find out more about a word: Where did it come from? How has its meaning altered? How can it be pronounced? What is its relationship to other words? Language is not fixed, but is an evolutionary process: words develop and change, in meaning, association, and pronunciation, as well as in many other ways. Exploring the routes taken by the words we choose to investigate leads us on fascinating journeys. How to Read a Word, written by the noted lexicographer Elizabeth Knowles, shows us how we might delve into the origins, associations, and evolution of words, and is primarily concerned with the following two points: what questions can be asked about a word? And how can they be answered? Utilising the unrivalled resources and the language-monitoring programs of the Oxford English Dictionary, the book leads you through the various stages of investigation into the myriad aspects of individual words, from etymology to date of first use and regional distribution, and from spelling and pronunciation to shifts in meaning. Supported by many examples of investigation into specific words, and featuring a full index, a wide selection of useful online resources, and reams of useful tips for avoiding common pitfalls, it is both a thought-provoking and practical handbook, providing readers with the essential tools to confidently interrogate the words by which they are surrounded. How to Read a Word is the perfect gift for anyone who is fascinated by the development and intricacies of the English language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191650567
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	10/28/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Elizabeth Knowles became a historical lexicographer through working as a library researcher for the Oxford English Dictionary Supplement, and then as a Senior Editor for the 4th edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (1993). She has been Editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations (7th edition, 2009), and her editorial credits include What They Didn't Say: A Book of Misquotations (2006), and the Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (2009).

Editorial Reviews

"The entirety of How to Read a Word encourages us to be thoughtful about words, to really dig and learn, and not take them for granted. It is filled with specific examples and anecdotes which serve to inform, entertain and explain many ways in which words form, are created, change and are adopted. Words and definitions are serious business. They evolve over time, passing in and out of fashion... For anyone interested in words, How to Read a Word is a very exciting read." —Jenny Williams, Wired

'How to Read a Word focuses on building linguistic self-reliance and competence— a necessity in an era where there are millions of Web pages devoted to giving answers, but very few trying to teach you to ask the right questions. How to Read a Word falls firmly into the "teach a man to fish" category of language books, and those who use it wisely are sure to catch good information on their hooks.' —Erin McKean, The Boston Globe

"Wonderfully, generously, Knowles shares with us an insider's view of lexicography, placing stress on precision, accuracy and authenticity... There's nothing wrong with How to Read a Word, not at all: everything about it is right. Every literate adult should be acquainted with it; college curriculums should mandate it." —Ange Mlinko, The Nation

From the Publisher