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9780190669201

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The Life of Guy is the story of attempted regime change leading to language change, as Allan Metcalf puts it pithily. It starts with a riveting history of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot that almost destroyed the monarchy and Parliament of England. It ends with guy's evolution into arguably one of the most important words in the English language-a subject pronoun. Along the way, we learn about strange British traditions like burning the Guy, how English lost thou, its informal, intimate way to say you, and how you guys, y'all, and yinz are battling for second-person plural supremacy. A great read! --Melissa Mohr, author of Holy Sh*t A fascinating story-an intriguing blend of history and linguistics. --David Crystal, University of Wales, Bangor, and author of Making Sense and The Story of Be It all began with a guy named Guy--Guy Fawkes--who, among other Roman Catholic provocateurs, attempted to blow up the House of Lords, while the Protestant king, James I, was in the House, when Parliament opened on November 5, 1605. So, the story of guy begins. Allan Metcalf, with characteristic expertise, clarity, and wit, starts there and tells guy's incredible story. I liked it and learned a lot from it. I think you guys will, too. --Michael Adams, Indiana University, and author of Slayer Slang and In Praise of Profanity Did you ever wonder why 'guys' means just about anyone as long as there's more than one? As Allan Metcalf writes, language change is miraculous . This book cracks open the mystery of why and how. You guys will have the most interesting cocktail party conversation going with this story! --Sali A. Tagliamonte, University of Toronto

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Allan Metcalf is Professor of English at MacMurray College, former executive secretary of the American Dialect Society, a forensic linguist, and author of OK: The Improbable Story of America's Greatest Word (Oxford University Press, 2012) as well as six other books on language.

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