Overview

Language is a wild animal: rough, ambiguous, inconsistent in countless ways. But that just makes it all the more tempting to tame it. Many have tried, from sticklers for supposedly correct grammar to inventors of supposedly perfect languages; from software engineers working on machine translation to governments that see language management as politics by another means. But when you enter the lair of a wild beast, you can be lucky to escape with your wits. Join Lane Greene on a journey of discovery into the deep strangeness of language. Learn why grammar rules can never capture the extraordinary variety of ordinary usage. See what happens when you try to design a language that really makes sense. Find out why, for all the talk of decline in English, no language in recorded history has ever gone to the dogs, or ever could. And learn the fate of those bold individuals who, through heroism or ignorance, ventured to teach their tongue some new tricks.

Full Product Details

Author:   Lane Greene
Publisher:   Profile Books Ltd
Imprint:   Economist Books
Edition:   Main
Dimensions:   Width: 13.00cm , Height: 2.00cm , Length: 19.60cm
Weight:   0.174kg
ISBN:  

9781781258071

ISBN 10:   1781258074
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   01 August 2019
Audience:   General/trade ,  College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  General ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

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Reviews

Lane Greene is one of my favourite writers on language. -- Steven Pinker With well chosen examples, he demonstrates languages' resilience and variety ... He is open-minded and discerning ... but he's no zealot and no snob ... he says things that are hard to argue with. -- Daniel Hahn * The Spectator * Both analytical and engaging ... Books that break down potentially tricky subject matter in such a manner are hard to come by, so this one should be treasured * How It Works *

Author Information

Lane Greene writes the Johnson column about language for The Economist. His book about the politics of language, You Are What You Speak: Grammar Grouches, Language Laws, and the Politics of Identity, was published by Delacorte Press in 2011.

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