| A Rakuten Company

Get 10% - 75% off select eBooks - play our trivia contest today! »

Preview added to your library
The Lexicographer's Dilemma: The Evolution of 'Proper' English, from Shakespeare to South Park By: Jack Lynch

The Lexicographer's Dilemma: The Evolution of 'Proper' English, from Shakespeare to South Park

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Rate this book!

( 235 customer ratings)

In order to rate this item, you must sign in first.

Sign In Cancel

Bloomsbury Publishing, November 2009

Synopsis

In its long history, the English language has had many lawmakers--those who have tried to regulate or otherwise organize the way we speak. Proper Words in Proper Places offers the first narrative history of these endeavors and shows clearly that what we now regard as the only "correct" way to speak emerged out of specific historical and social conditions over the course of centuries. As historian Jack Lynch has discovered, every rule has a human history and the characters peopling his narrative are as interesting for their obsession as for their erudition: the sharp-tongued satirist Jonathan Swift, who called for a government-sponsored academy to issue rulings on the language; the polymath Samuel Johnson, who put dictionaries on a new footing; the eccentric Hebraist Robert Lowth, the first modern to understand the workings of biblical poetry; the crackpot linguist John Horne Tooke, whose bizarre theories continue to baffle scholars; the chemist and theologian Joseph Priestly, whose political radicalism prompted violent riots; the ever-crotchety Noah Webster, who worked to Americanize the English language; the long-bearded lexicographer James A. H. Murray, who devoted his life to a survey of the entire language in the Oxford English Dictionary; and the playwright George Bernard Shaw, who worked without success to make English spelling rational.

Grammatical "rules" or "laws" are not like the law of gravity, or even laws against murder and theft--they're more like rules of etiquette, made by fallible people and subject to change. Witty, smart, full of passion for the world's language, Proper Words in Proper Places will entertain and educate in equal measure.

$9.39 List price: $11.99 You save: 22% ($2.60)

BUY NOW

Send as gift

Save Preview
Preview added to your library

The Lexicographer's Dilemma: The Evolution of 'Proper' English, from Shakespeare to South Park

Bloomsbury Publishing, November 2009
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
( 235 customer ratings)
Found In

You Might Like:

Found In

eBook Information

Imprint: Walker Books
ISBN: 9780802719638
Language:  English
Download options: Adobe DRM EPUB

Files Available for Download

If you use one of Kobo's free reading apps you won't need to worry about download options most of the time. Your Kobo reading app can easily add Kobo Store books to your library for a seamless reading experience.

Download options matter when:

  • You want to read your book on an eReader other than the Kobo eReader (see here for a list of supported eReaders).
  • The book you want is only available as an Adobe DRM PDF.

In both of these cases you will need to:

  1. Download a copy of your book to your computer.
  2. Open the book using a free application called Adobe Digital Editions.

You can also use Digital Editions to transfer the book to your eReader. See here for more information on Digital Editions.

Read this on:

  • Desktop More

    Kobo Desktop App

    You can read this item on your computer using our free Kobo Desktop Application. This application lets you read, manage your library of eBooks, and even shop for new ones. Check out our demo for more information!

    Download it now for PC!

    Download App!

    Mac user? Click here

    Download it now for Mac!

    Download App!

    PC user? Click here

    Learn More »
  • eReaders More

    eReading Devices

    You can read this item on your Kobo eReader (or other select electronic reading devices). The Kobo eReader lets you carry your whole library with you, so that you can read on the go.

    Visit kobo.com/ereaders »
  • Tablets More

    Tablets

    You can read this item on select tablets using one of our free Kobo apps. These apps let you read, manage your library of eBooks, and even shop for new ones.

    Learn More »
  • Kobo Vox More

    Kobo Vox

    You can read this item on your Kobo Vox eReader. The Kobo Vox eReader lets you read books with color, sound or interactive elements. Check out our demo for more information on the Kobo Vox.

    Learn More »
  • Kobo Arc More

    Kobo Arc

    You can read this item on your Kobo Arc using the Library app. This app lets you read, manage your library of eBooks, and shop for new books.

    Learn More »
  • Android More

    Android

    You can read this item on any Android device (phone, tablet) with one of our free Kobo apps. These apps let you read, manage your library of eBooks, and even shop for new ones.

    Learn More »
  • iPhone More

    iPhone

    You can read this item on the free Kobo app for iPhone. This app let you read, manage your library of eBooks, and even shop for new ones.

    Download the iPhone App!
    Download App!
    Learn More »

Goodreads Reviews for The Lexicographer's Dilemma: The Evolution of 'Proper' English, from Shakespeare to South Park

Back To Top
  • Stay Connected
  • Stay up on the latest Kobo news, deals and events.

{1}

By: {2}

Available on: {3}

Coming soon

Secure Transaction

Subtotal

Store Credit

Total

We'll charge your credit card {4} on {3}.

We'll charge your credit card {4} when the book is added to your Library.

Your store credit covers the cost of this purchase, so we don't charge your credit card

Use standard checkout
Have a promo code? Use standard checkout.
Use Quick Buy for all eBook purchases.
{0}
By clicking Buy Now, I agree to Kobo's Terms of Sale. BUY NOW Pre-Order

Thank you for your purchase

Thanks for pre-ordering

{2} is now in your library. You'll receive an email confirming your purchase very soon.

{2} has been pre-ordered. You'll receive a confirmation email confirming your pre-order very soon.

You were charged:

You will be charged: on {3}

You will be charged: when the book is added to your Library

Rakuten Super Points earned: {1}

Rakuten Super Points {1} earned after the book is added to your Library

{0}
Continue shopping