Author: Kory Stamper File Type: epub Do you have strong feelings about the word irregardless?Have you ever tried to definethe word is? Brimming with intelligence and personality, this vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made is a must-read for word mavens. Many of us take dictionaries for granted, and few may realize that the process of writing dictionaries is, in fact, as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what to define and how to do it, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why small words are the most difficult to define, how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. And along the way, she reveals little-known surprisesfor example, the fact that OMG was first used in a letter to Winston Churchill in 1917. Word by Word brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a startlingly rich world inhabited by quirky and erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. Certain to be a delight for all lovers of words, Stampers debut will make you laugh as much as it makes you appreciate the wonderful complexities and eccentricities of the English language. **Amazon.com Review An Amazon Best Book of March 2017 We think of English as a fortress to be defended, but a better analogy is to think of English as a child, writes Kory Stamper in her witty and surprising new book, Word by Word. As English grows, it lives its own life, and this is right and healthy. Sometimes English does exactly what we think it should sometimes it goes places we dont like and thrives there in spite of all our worrying. We can tell it to clean itself up and act more like Latin we can throw tantrums and start learning French instead. But we will never really be the boss of it. And thats why it flourishes. Word by Word is part memoir, part history of dictionaries in particular, those published by Stampers employer, Merriam Webster. Language lovers (can we call them logophiles, Ms. Stamper?) will have a fine time in the authors company as she discusses the unpredictable and uncontrollable ways of her mother tongue. The surprises come when she describes the difficulties of defining seemingly simple words like nude and marriage. Stamper and her fellow lexicographers work mostly in silence, but they cant escape being drawn into our eras vociferous political discourse. Along the way, theres much pleasure to be had in Stampers down-to-earth, frequently ribald narrative style, which keeps Word by Word from feeling overly intellectual or highfalutin. Readers will find a deeper understanding of how dictionaries are compiled, and a trove of amusing insights into definitions and derivations. On fleek? Invented by a 16-year-old YouTuber. Pumpernickel? Translates to fartgoblin. Posh? If youre certain that term derives from English-Empire lingo for port-out-starboard-home, think again. While you might not choose to spend an entire month of your life writing a dictionary entry for take, Stamper conveys the delight, frustration, and satisfaction her vocation entails. She has that special feeling for language she calls sprachgefuhl the odd buzzing in your brain that tells you that planting the lettuce and planting misinformation are different uses of plant. Word by Word offers laymen a glimpse into a crack lexicographers mind, and it turns out to be definitively a very entertaining place indeed. --Sarah Harrison Smith, The Amazon Book Review Review A witty, sly, occasionally profane behind-the-scenes tour aimed at deposing the notion of real and proper English Stamper corrals [words] to her purpose with such aplomb that readers might just feel like applauding. For those who love language, this debutwill be a delectable feast. Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) Neatly and wittily covers grammar A smart, sparkling and often hilarious valentine to the content and keepers of dictionaries. Most people use a dictionary with little thought given to the genesis of definitions, or their maintenance. Stamper pulls back the curtain in Word by Word. Marilyn Dahl, *Shelf Awareness for Readers* [M]arvelous insight into the messy world behind the tidy definitions on the page... Lexicography is not sexy, but in this spirited book about the science and art of making dictionaries, it is by turns amusing, frustrating, surprising, and above all, engrossing. It is perhaps unsurprising, given her line of work, that Stamper employs words with delightful precision in her writing. What is surprising is how enjoyable she makes reading about the drudgery of dictionary making. Seen through Stampers eyes, a dictionary is not only a reference source, but also a living linguistic record and a window into history. Bridget Thoreson, *Booklist* [Stamper] loves her work, and her enthusiasm adds a real zest to her tales of usage Big-time Scrabble fans will love this book. Kirkus As a writer, Kory Stamper can do anything with words define them, split them, lump them, agglute them, and make them work for her every bit as ferociously and precisely as she works for them in her day job as a far from mild-mannered lexicographer at Merriam-Webster. You will never take a dictionary entry for granted again. Mary Norris, bestselling author of *Between You & Me*

Author: Patrick Brantlinger File Type: pdf The Companion to the Victorian Novel provides contextual and critical information about the entire range of British fiction published between 1837 and 1901. ullProvides contextual and critical information about the entire range of British fiction published during the Victorian period. llExplains issues such as Victorian religions, class structure, and Darwinism to those who are unfamiliar with them. llComprises original, accessible chapters written by renowned and emerging scholars in the field of Victorian studies. llIdeal for students and researchers seeking up-to-the-minute coverage of contexts and trends, or as a starting point for a survey course.lulReviewThese are wonderful essays [...] written by important scholars in the field. [...]Highly recommended. Choiceanother Blackwell reference work of prodigious proportions [...] by a galaxy of distinguished scholars [...] indispensable for any comprehensive reference library, destined indeed to be of permanent value and importance for many years to come. Reference ReviewsBook DescriptionThis Companion introduces readers to the historical contexts in which the vast range of Victorian fiction was produced and to the critical debates that have raged about it ever since.