Just A Phrase I'm Going Through: My Life in Language

by David Crystal

Overview

Kidnapping, attempted assassination, espionage … not the answers you’d expect to the question ‘what happens when you become a linguist?’

But now, reflecting on a long and hugely successful career at the forefront of the field of English Language and Linguistics, David Crystal answers this question and offers us a special look behind the scenes at the adventures, rewards, challenges and pitfalls of his life in language.

Both an autobiography and a highly accessible introduction to the field of linguistics, Just a Phrase I’m Going Through illuminates and entertains us with its many insights into the ever-fascinating subject of language.

David Crystal is synonymous with language, both as a great populariser and linguistic pioneer, and his contribution to the field is unparalleled. This is a book not just for students and teachers but for all lovers of language.

For more about David Crystal at Routledge, visit: www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415485746.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415485746
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/29/2009
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

David Crystal received an OBE for services to the English language in 1995, and was made a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA) in 2000. He is patron of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) and the Association for Language Learning (ALL). Having published over 100 books, covering a diversity of language topics, his most recent publications include Txtng: the gr8 db8 (2008) and Thinking on my Words: Exploring Shakespeare’s Language (2008). He has been a freelance writer, lecturer, and broadcaster since 1984 and continues his work with language from his home in Holyhead, North Wales.

Table of Contents

1. Being a Linguist 2. A Semilingual Start 3. New Worlds 4. Liverpool School 5. Extra-curricular Acts 6. Learning, and Not Learning, About Language 7. Becoming Academic 8. Surveying 9. Worlds Within Worlds 10. Becoming Professional 11. The Sexy Subject 12. Meeting a Need 13. Choices and Consequences 14. Meetings and Meetings 15. Looking for Remedies 16. Why Did You Resign? 17. The Encyclopedia Game 18. Schizoid Man 19. Busyness and Business

Editorial Reviews

I have never met anyone who is as passionate about the English language as David Crystal, he understands its history and its possibilities better than anyone else in my world, and there is no better way to understand his world than reading this book. An incredible human as Linguist.

Anyone who is fascinated with dictionaries is fascinated with life, anyone who is fascinated with life is simply fascinating. David Crystal's life and work is absolutely fascinating.

He's done the story of English, now here's the story of him. David Crystal and words, they go together so well.

There's something very moving about reading how David Crystal got where he is today. We know of his passion for language now here is his passion for life. Jazz, theatre, travel, and sexy linguistics, there's so much here.

If David Crystal is going through a phrase I want to go through it with him. He is a fundamental part of the language I speak, and this insight into the making of the man is personal, honest, and sometimes funny. He rocks.

There's so much I wanted to know about David Crystal, not anymore.

In his books, in his talks, and in his lectures, David Crystal has gone beyond the call of duty in sharing his passion for language we us, but now it gets personal. He's not your average academic.

David Crystal loves and appreciates every word he speaks, and every word written in this book helps us to understand someone who is not just a great linguist, but a true champion and lover of language.

Benjamin Zephaniah

From the Publisher