The Fight for EnglishThe Fight for English
How Language Pundits Ate, Shot, and Left
Title rated 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 5 ratings(5 ratings)
Book, 2006
Current format, Book, 2006, , All copies in use.Book, 2006
Current format, Book, 2006, , All copies in use. Offered in 0 more formatsCombining a chronological survey of key influences in the area of usage with discussion of such themes as punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation, tells the story of the battles surrounding English usage.
A high maven of the English language, Crystal (honorary linguistics, U. Wales-Bangor) is not concerned about English-only movements in the US. Rather he tells the story of a group of people who tried to shape the language in their own image and, generation after generation, failed. The pattern has repeated for centuries, he demonstrates, and continues today, though at a lower volume. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Tells the story of the battles surrounding English usage. This book combines a chronological survey of key influences in the area of usage with discussion of particular themes such as punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation.
The story of battles--both past and present--surrounding English language usage, The Fight for English explores why millions of people feel linguistically inferior. Unhappy with the "zero tolerance" approach to punctuation offered by Lynn Truss's Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, David Crystal offers
a view of the subject that is much more balanced. Instead of answering the claims made by other manuals of English usage, Crystal provides an explanation and analysis of the genre as a whole.
Crystal weaves an intricate and engaging account that traces the history of the English language and its development over time. From Anglo-Saxon to Modern English, Crystal addresses why the same language issues that were bothering people 250 years ago are still bothering people today. This is the
story of the fight for English usage--the story of the people who tried to shape the language in their own image, but failed generation after generation. In short, they ate, shot, and left.
The Fight for English brings language to life on the page with a witty and engaging writing style. Broadening the perspective on the English language, this compellingly informative book has something for everyone interested in the topic. Move over Harry Potter. Here comes punctuation.
A high maven of the English language, Crystal (honorary linguistics, U. Wales-Bangor) is not concerned about English-only movements in the US. Rather he tells the story of a group of people who tried to shape the language in their own image and, generation after generation, failed. The pattern has repeated for centuries, he demonstrates, and continues today, though at a lower volume. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Tells the story of the battles surrounding English usage. This book combines a chronological survey of key influences in the area of usage with discussion of particular themes such as punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation.
The story of battles--both past and present--surrounding English language usage, The Fight for English explores why millions of people feel linguistically inferior. Unhappy with the "zero tolerance" approach to punctuation offered by Lynn Truss's Eats, Shoots, and Leaves, David Crystal offers
a view of the subject that is much more balanced. Instead of answering the claims made by other manuals of English usage, Crystal provides an explanation and analysis of the genre as a whole.
Crystal weaves an intricate and engaging account that traces the history of the English language and its development over time. From Anglo-Saxon to Modern English, Crystal addresses why the same language issues that were bothering people 250 years ago are still bothering people today. This is the
story of the fight for English usage--the story of the people who tried to shape the language in their own image, but failed generation after generation. In short, they ate, shot, and left.
The Fight for English brings language to life on the page with a witty and engaging writing style. Broadening the perspective on the English language, this compellingly informative book has something for everyone interested in the topic. Move over Harry Potter. Here comes punctuation.
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- Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2006.
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