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Spell It Out
The singular story of English spelling
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Check link for latest rating. ( 888 ratings, 149 reviews)
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Spell It Out
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See moreA unique journey through English spelling, untangling the fascinating origins of its greatest eccentricities.
A unique journey through English spelling, untangling the fascinating origins of its greatest eccentricities.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Why is there an 'h' in ghost? William Caxton, inventor of the printing press, and his Flemish employees are to blame: without a dictionary or style guide to hand in fifteenth century Bruges, the typesetters simply spelt it the way it sounded to their foreign ears, and it stuck.
Seventy-five per cent of English spelling is regular, but twenty-five per cent is complicated, and in Spell It Out, our foremost linguistics expert David Crystal extends a helping hand to the confused and curious alike.
He unearths the stories behind the rogue words that confound us and explains why these peculiarities entered the mainstream, in an epic journey taking in sixth century monks, French and Latin upstarts, the Industrial Revolution, and the internet. By learning the history and the principles, Crystal shows how the spellings that break all the rules become easier to get right.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
David Crystal's Spell It Out is praised for its entertaining and insightful exploration of the chaotic history of English spelling. Reviewers commend Crystal's ability to make the subject engaging, highlighting the book's blend of historical depth, charm, and wit. The work is described as both authoritative and entertaining, offering readers a unique look at the idiosyncrasies of spelling with a pleasant narrative style.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781846685682
Publisher: Profile Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 19 September 2013
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Profile Books Ltd
Edition: Main
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 28.0mm
Width: 128.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 240g
Pages: 336
About the Author
David Crystal is Honorary Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wales, Bangor. He has written many books and articles in fields ranging from forensic linguistics and ELT to the liturgy and Shakespeare. He is the author of The Story of English in 100 Words, and his Stories of English is a Penguin Classic.
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