Horrible Words

Author: Rebecca Gowers
Publisher: Penguin UK
ISBN: 1846148529
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 390

Book Description
Nothing inflames the language gripers like a misplaced disinterested, an illogical irregardless, a hideous operationalisation. To purists these are 'howlers' and 'non-words', fit only for scorn. But in their rush to condemn such terms, are the naysayers missing something? In this provocative and hugely entertaining book, Rebecca Gowers throws light on a great array of horrible words, and shows how the diktats of the pedants are repeatedly based on misinformation, false reasoning and straight-up snobbery. The result is a brilliant work of history, a surreptitious introduction to linguistics, and a mischievous salute to the misusers of the language. It is also a bold manifesto asserting our common rights over English, even as it questions the true nature of style.

Nine Nasty Words

Author: John McWhorter
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0593188799
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 289

Book Description
A New York Times bestseller One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power--and why we love them so much. Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech--the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger. Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.

Horrible Histories Special: Wicked Words

Author: Terry Deary
Publisher: Scholastic UK
ISBN: 1407137212
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 220

Book Description
Discover why words rule in this wicked book of them! Find out why they say the pen is mightier than the sword! Terry Deary runs riot through the horrible history of the English language in a book to leave you (and your teacher) speechless.

Modern Calculus and Analytic Geometry

Author: Richard A. Silverman
Publisher: Courier Corporation
ISBN: 0486793982
Category : Mathematics
Languages : en
Pages : 1058

Book Description
A self-contained text for an introductory course, this volume places strong emphasis on physical applications. Key elements of differential equations and linear algebra are introduced early and are consistently referenced, all theorems are proved using elementary methods, and numerous worked-out examples appear throughout. The highly readable text approaches calculus from the student's viewpoint and points out potential stumbling blocks before they develop. A collection of more than 1,600 problems ranges from exercise material to exploration of new points of theory — many of the answers are found at the end of the book; some of them worked out fully so that the entire process can be followed. This well-organized, unified text is copiously illustrated, amply cross-referenced, and fully indexed.

Nine Nasty Words

Author: John McWhorter
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0593421388
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 289

Book Description
The New York Times bestseller now in paperback. One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power--and why we love them so much. Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech--the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger. Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.

The Book of My Lives

Author: Aleksandar Hemon
Publisher: Macmillan + ORM
ISBN: 0374708886
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 196

Book Description
A Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award For fans of Aleksandar Hemon's fiction, The Book of My Lives is simply indispensable; for the uninitiated, it is the perfect introduction to one of the great writers of our time. Aleksandar Hemon's lives begin in Sarajevo, a small, blissful city where a young boy's life is consumed with street soccer with the neighborhood kids, resentment of his younger sister, and trips abroad with his engineer-cum-beekeeper father. Here, a young man's life is about poking at the pretensions of the city's elders with American music, bad poetry, and slightly better journalism. And then, his life in Chicago: watching from afar as war breaks out in Sarajevo and the city comes under siege, no way to return home; his parents and sister fleeing Sarajevo with the family dog, leaving behind all else they had ever known; and Hemon himself starting a new life, his own family, in this new city. And yet this is not really a memoir. The Bookof My Lives, Hemon's first book of nonfiction, defies convention and expectation. It is a love song to two different cities; it is a heartbreaking paean to the bonds of family; it is a stirring exhortation to go out and play soccer—and not for the exercise. It is a book driven by passions but built on fierce intelligence, devastating experience, and sharp insight. And like the best narratives, it is a book that will leave you a different reader—a different person, with a new way of looking at the world—when you've finished. A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of 2013

Andrew's Angry Words

Author: Dorothea Lachner
Publisher: Perfection Learning
ISBN: 9780780778733
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Andrew shouted angry words when his sister spilled his toys. He was instantly sorry, but Marion had already shouted the angry words over the phone to Ted. Andrew ran to Ted's house--but it was too late. Ted had already passed them along, and the angry words were loose in the world. Children learn very early just how powerful words can be.

Justin Case: Shells, Smells, and the Horrible Flip-Flops of Doom

Author: Rachel Vail
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ISBN: 1466874295
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 191

Book Description
Justin is going to start fourth grade—but first, he has to survive the summer. He "gets" to go to camp every day on a bus. He "gets" to experience all sorts of new things: Bugs. Mess hall food. Flip-flops (they hurt the space between his toes and they're hard to walk in). And (gulp!) swimming. Justin's little sister, Elizabeth, seems to deal with camp just fine. So do his friends. Justin is trying very hard not to be a worried kid anymore, especially when it comes to making friends at camp, including a new kid who is kind of . . . rough. After all, Justin is going to be in fourth grade. It's time to be brave. Right?

Hip Hop's Horrible Nightmare

Author: Uncle Jon
Publisher: Jonnie Sears, LLC
ISBN: 173353704X
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages :

Book Description
Come and join an emotional story about social redemption as seen through the eyes of Donald 'Hip Hop' Berry, a teenage high school bully. After experiencing head trauma from an automobile accident Hip Hop lies comatose on a hospital gurney when a devilish nightmare transports him back to the year 1855 and thrust him in the role of a plantation slave so he can get a taste of the disrespect he slam dunked on his fellow students. Hence, our story follows his torment when he is beaten with a bull whip; branded with a red-hot poker; forced to pick cotton; and forced to eat rotting food from a pig's trough. Finally, we will follow him and his adopted family's desperate attempt to flee the plantation with a pack of hungry dogs hot on their trail. We shall see how Hip Hop is forced to learn some valuable lessons about tolerating people different from himself, lessons that are remedial to the violent breaking news we see on TV every day. So for the sake of our families let's learn Hip Hop's lesson together; after all, can't one great lesson be enough for all of us?

The Very Inappropriate Word

Author: Jim Tobin
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (BYR)
ISBN: 1466844736
Category : Juvenile Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 40

Book Description
Michael loves interesting words (hard words like ELASTIC, little words like VAST, and big words like SMITHEREENS) and is always on the lookout for words to collect. Then one day, he picks up a new word. A bad word. An inappropriate word. At least, that's what his friend says. But Michael kind of likes the word. He thinks he might try it out. At school. Bad idea.