Bibliograph

The word detective, a life in words : from serendipity to selfie, John Simpson

Type

Label

The word detective, a life in words : from serendipity to selfie, John Simpson

Language

eng

resource.biographical

autobiography

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The word detective

Responsibility statement

John Simpson

Sub title

a life in words : from serendipity to selfie

Summary

In The Word Detective, an intensely personal memoir and a joyful celebration of English, Simpson weaves a story of how words come into being (and sometimes disappear), how cultures shape the language we use, and how we cope when words fail us. Throughout, he enlivens his narrative with lively excavations and investigations of individual words -- from deadline to online and back to 101 (yes, it's a word) -- all the while reminding us that the seemingly mundane words (can you name the four different meanings of ma?) are often the most interesting ones. A brilliant expedition through the world of words, The Word Detective will delight, inspire, and educate any lover of language

Table Of Contents

Introduction: the background to the case -- Serendipity, perhaps -- Lexicography 101 -- Marshallers of words -- The longest way round -- Uneasy skanking -- Shark-infested waters -- OED redux -- The tunnel and the vision -- Gxddbov xxkxzt pg ifmk -- At the top of the crazy tree -- Shenanigans online -- Flavour of the month -- Becoming the past

Target audience

adult

Creator