Picture 1 of 1

Stock photo

Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends - Picture 1 of 1

Word Myths : Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends by David Wilton (2004, Hardcover)

BennettBooksLtd (3563)

98.8% positive Feedback

Price:

US $14.95

Approximately£11.05

+ $19.42 postage

Estimated delivery Mon, 4 Aug - Thu, 14 Aug

Returns:

30 days return. Buyer pays for return postage. If you use an eBay delivery label, it will be deducted from your refund amount. Policy depends on postage service.

Condition:

New

(The ISBN on the book will match, but the cover art may vary and may not match the picture. 4) Can you provide pictures of the actual product?. The book's binding type may be found under "Format" below.

About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherOxford University Press, Incorporated

ISBN-100195172841

ISBN-139780195172843

eBay Product ID (ePID)30756959

Product Key Features

Number of Pages240 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameWord Myths : Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends

SubjectLinguistics / Etymology, Linguistics / General

Publication Year2004

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaLanguage Arts & Disciplines

AuthorDavid Wilton

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height1 in

Item Weight14.1 Oz

Item Length5.8 in

Item Width8.3 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2004-005598

Dewey Edition22

Reviews"Think "hot dog" was coined by a New York baseball vendor, or that a certain vulgarity originated as an acronym? Then you need to read this book, which shows that some of the best etymological stories are just tall tales."--Chicago Tribune(10 Best Books About Language, 2004), "Amateur, no make that professional logophile and word origins website editor Wilton corrects the mistakes many of us make in what we believe are the origins of words and phrases. He begins by examining the origins of these fallacies, and why we persist in perpetuating them. After relieving usof any misconceptions about the existence of Dr. Condom, and sorting out that pesky "crap" question, Wilton concludes with ways to find, and enjoy the true origins of words."--Reference and Research Book News, "Think "hot dog" was coined by a New York baseball vendor, or that a certain vulgarity originated as an acronym? Then you need to read this book, which shows that some of the best etymological stories are just tall tales."--Chicago Tribune (10 Best Books About Language, 2004), "This fascinating collection of myths about word origins should be a joy to read."--Don McCreary, Department of English, University of Georgia., "This fascinating collection of myths about word origins should be a joyto read."--Don McCreary, Department of English, University of Georgia., "Detailing the whole fascinating history behind words and phrases that,for one reason or another, have tall tales attached to them.... Buy it for:Armchair academics/cocktail party know-it-alls."--Philadelphia Weekly, "Think "hot dog" was coined by a New York baseball vendor, or that a certain vulgarity originated as an acronym? Then you need to read this book, which shows that some of the best etymological stories are just tall tales."--Chicago Tribune (10 Best Books About Language, 2004)"Detailing the whole fascinating history behind words and phrases that, for one reason or another, have tall tales attached to them.... Buy it for: Armchair academics/cocktail party know-it-alls."--Philadelphia Weekly"Think "hot dog" was coined by a New York baseball vendor, or that a certain vulgarity originated as an acronym? Then you need to read this book, which shows that some of the best etymological stories are just tall tales."--Chicago Tribune (10 Best Books About Language, 2004)"Amateur, no make that professional logophile and word origins website editor Wilton corrects the mistakes many of us make in what we believe are the origins of words and phrases. He begins by examining the origins of these fallacies, and why we persist in perpetuating them. After relieving us of any misconceptions about the existence of Dr. Condom, and sorting out that pesky "crap" question, Wilton concludes with ways to find, and enjoy the true origins ofwords."--Reference & Research Book News"This fascinating collection of myths about word origins should be a joy to read."--Don McCreary, Department of English, University of Georgia., "Amateur, no make that professional logophile and word origins websiteeditor Wilton corrects the mistakes many of us make in what we believe are theorigins of words and phrases. He begins by examining the origins of thesefallacies, and why we persist in perpetuating them. Fully armed, he then goes onto expose the "big boys," such as "rule of thumb," and the 500 words Eskimos aresaid to have for "snow." He goes on to settle with the English in a chapterentitled "Posh, Phat Pommies," and then takes on naval destroyers of thelanguage. In following chapters he battles hookers, political correctness, waxtadpoles and jelly donuts. After relieving us of any misconceptions about theexistence of Dr. Condom, and sorting out that pesky "crap" question, Wiltonconcludes with ways to find, and enjoy the true origins of words."--Referenceand Research Library Book News, "Detailing the whole fascinating history behind words and phrases that, for one reason or another, have tall tales attached to them.... Buy it for: Armchair academics/cocktail party know-it-alls."--Philadelphia Weekly

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal422

SynopsisDo you "know" that posh comes from an acronym meaning "port out, starboard home"? That "the whole nine yards" comes from (pick one) the length of a WWII gunner's belt; the amount of fabric needed to make a kilt; a sarcastic football expression? That Chicago is called "The Windy City" because of the bloviating habits of its politicians, and not the breeze off the lake? If so, you need this book. David Wilton debunks the most persistently wrong word histories, and gives, to the best of our actual knowledge, the real stories behind these perennially mis-etymologized words. In addition, he explains why these wrong stories are created, disseminated, and persist, even after being corrected time and time again. What makes us cling to these stories, when the truth behind these words and phrases is available, for the most part, at any library or on the Internet? Arranged by chapters, this book avoids a dry A-Z format. Chapters separate misetymologies by kind, including The Perils of Political Correctness (picnics have nothing to do with lynchings), Posh, Phat Pommies (the problems of bacronyming--the desire to make every word into an acronym), and CANOE (which stands for the Conspiracy to Attribute Nautical Origins to Everything). Word Myths corrects long-held and far-flung examples of wrong etymologies, without taking the fun out of etymology itself. It's the best of both worlds: not only do you learn the many wrong stories behind these words, you also learn why and how they are created--and what the real story is., Do you "know" that posh comes from an acronym meaning "port out, starboard home"? That "the whole nine yards" comes from (pick one) the length of a WWII gunner's belt; the amount of fabric needed to make a kilt; a sarcastic football expression? That Chicago is called "The Windy City" because of the bloviating habits of its politicians, and not the breeze off the lake? If so, you need this book. David Wilton debunks the mostpersistently wrong word histories, and gives, to the best of our actual knowledge, the real stories behind these perennially mis-etymologized words. In addition, he explains why these wrongstories are created, disseminated, and persist, even after being corrected time and time again. What makes us cling to these stories, when the truth behind these words and phrases is available, for the most part, at any library or on the Internet? Arranged by chapters, this book avoids a dry A-Z format. Chapters separate misetymologies by kind, including The Perils of Political Correctness (picnics have nothing to do with lynchings), Posh, Phat Pommies(the problems of bacronyming--the desire to make every word into an acronym), and CANOE (which stands for the Conspiracy to Attribute Nautical Origins to Everything). Word Myths corrects long-heldand far-flung examples of wrong etymologies, without taking the fun out of etymology itself. It's the best of both worlds: not only do you learn the many wrong stories behind these words, you also learn why and how they are created--and what the real story is., David Wilton debunks the most persistently wrong word histories, and gives, to the best of our actual knowledge, the real stories behind these perennially mis-etymologized words. In addition, he explains why these wrong stories are created, disseminated, and persist, even after being corrected time and time again. What makes us cling to these stories, when the truth behind these words and phrases is available, for the most part, at any library or on theInternet?, Do you "know" that posh comes from an acronym meaning "port out, starboard home"? That "the whole nine yards" comes from (pick one) the length of a WWII gunner's belt; the amount of fabric needed to make a kilt; a sarcastic football expression? That Chicago is called "The Windy City" because of the bloviating habits of its politicians, and not the breeze off the lake? If so, you need this book. David Wilton debunks the most persistently wrong word histories, and gives, to the best of our actual knowledge, the real stories behind these perennially mis-etymologized words. In addition, he explains why these wrong stories are created, disseminated, and persist, even after being corrected time and time again. What makes us cling to these stories, when the truth behind these words and phrases is available, for the most part, at any library or on the Internet? Arranged by chapters, this book avoids a dry A-Z format. Chapters separate misetymologies by kind, including The Perils of Political Correctness (picnics have nothing to do with lynchings), Posh, Phat Pommies (the problems of bacronyming --the desire to make every word into an acronym), and CANOE (which stands for the Conspiracy to Attribute Nautical Origins to Everything). Word Myths corrects long-held and far-flung examples of wrong etymologies, without taking the fun out of etymology itself. It's the best of both worlds: not only do you learn the many wrong stories behind these words, you also learn why and how they are created--and what the real story is.

LC Classification NumberPE1584.W55 2004

Illustrated byBrunetti, Ivan