David Crystal

David Crystal, 2007

World-renowned linguist and reference editor, David Crystal, brings us the third edition of «Penguin's Concise Encyclopedia». This abridgement condenses the core material in the third edition of the «Penguin Encyclopedia» which has already reached a world sales total of over 23,000 copies in hardback. David Crystal has a gift for clarity and concision which enables him to illuminate even the most intricate concepts. Here he offers over 22,000 alphabatised entries on the facts, events, issues, people, beliefs and achievements that make up the sum of human knowledge. Entries have been written by over 350 specialist contributors from universities, museums and other institutions of excellence around the world. «The Concise Encyclopedia» is part of the Penguin Reference Library and draws on over 70 years of experience in bringing reliable, useful and clear information to millions of readers around the world. Подробнее

Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language

David Crystal, 2010

What do the following have in common? Let there be light — A fly in the ointment — A rod of iron — New wine in old bottles Lick the dust — How are the mighty fallen — Kick against the pricks — Wheels within wheels They are all in the King James Bible. This astonishing book «has contributed far more to English in the way of idiomatic or quasi-proverbial expressions than any other literary source.» So wrote David Crystal in 2004. In Begat he returns to the subject not only to consider how a work published in 1611 could have had such influence on the language, but how it can still do so when few regularly hear the Bible and fewer still hear it in the language of Stuart England. No other version of the Bible however popular (such as the Good News Bible) or imposed upon the church (like the New English Bible) has had anything like the same influence. David Crystal shows how its words and phrases have over the centuries found independent life in the work of poets, playwrights, novelists, politicians, and journalists, and how more recently they have been taken up with enthusiasm by advertisers, Hollywood, and hip-hop. Yet the King James Bible owes much to earlier English versions, notably those by John Wycliffe in the fourteenth century and William Tyndale in the sixteenth. David Crystal reveals how much that is memorable in the King James Bible stems from its forebears. At the same time he shows how crucial were the revisions made by King James's team of translators and editors. «A person who professes to be a critic in the delicacies of the English language ought to have the Bible at his finger's ends», Lord Macaulay advised Lady Holland in 1831. Begat shows how true that remains. It will be a revelation to all who read it. Подробнее

The Penguin Pocket Dictionary of Quotations

David Crystal, 2005

The Penguin Pocket Dictionary of Quotations contains thousands of epigrams and bons mots from public figures famous and infamous. Arranged alphabetically by speaker, and including biographical information, this is an invaluable book for readers, writers, after-dinner speakers and trivia addicts. Part of Penguin's major new series of reference titles ranging from Spanish and French dictionaries to books on spelling and babies' names. Подробнее

The Penguin Pocket Spelling Dictionary

David Crystal, 2005

Anyone who needs to check a spelling quickly and easily will find this pocket dictionary absolutely indispensable. As well as showing how to spell virtually all the words that are likely to encountered day to day, it highlights common areas of confusion and traps for the unwary. Part of Penguin's major new series of reference titles ranging from Spanish and French dictionaries to books on spelling and babies' names. Подробнее

Words Words Words

David Crystal, 2007

- Explores the endlessly fascinating world of words — World-renowned expert draws on a lifetime's experience — From the world's No. 1 language publisher Words, Words, Words is all about the wonder of words. Drawing on a lifetime's experience, David Crystal explores language in all its rich varieties through words: the very building blocks of our communication. Language has no life of its own: it only exists in the mouths and ears, hands, eyes and brains of its users. As we are guided expertly and passionately through the mysteries and delights of word origins, histories, spellings, regional and social variations, taboo words, jargon, and wordplay, the contribution we all play in shaping the linguistic world around us becomes evident. Words, Words, Words is a celebration of what we say and how we say it. It invites us to engage linguistically with who we are: to understand what words tell us about where we come from and what we do. And as they continually shape our lives, it suggests ways that we can look at words anew and get involved with collecting and coining words ourselves. Подробнее

How Language Works

David Crystal, 2007

In this fascinating survey of everything from how sounds become speech to how names work, David Crystal answers every question you might ever have had about the nuts and bolts of language in his usual highly illuminating way. Along the way, we find out about eyebrow flashes, whistling languages, how parents teach their children to speak, how politeness travels across languages and how the way we talk show not just how old we are but where we're from and even who we want to be. Подробнее

The Future of Language: The Routledge David Crystal Lectures (+ DVD)

David Crystal, 2009

For the first time, «The Future of Language» brings together three of Professor David Crystal’s most popular lectures on the future of language. One of the world’s foremost experts on language and English language, and arguably the most accessible and entertaining writer and lecturer in this area, Crystal delivers these informative and highly enjoyable performance lectures exploring key contemporary language issues: 'The Future of Englishes', 'Language Death' and 'Internet Linguistics'. An accompanying book with Crystal’s commentary on the lectures is included within the DVD package. This book supplements the lectures with a short overview of the main themes discussed, followed by a more detailed introduction to each topic and a synopsis of all the main points made in each lecture. The book concludes with Crystal’s reflections on how the three interrelated topics covered here will continue to interact and contribute to the evolution of language. Special features: — English subtitles — A cultural and usage commentary with timecodes so users can easily access points of interest — Further reading and activities for the classroom – easy-to-follow tasks to get students engaging with language straight away — An index both for the DVD and the book so users can search for topics of interest This is an ideal resource for all university and A-level English Language and Linguistics departments and will be of interest to anyone involved in the study of language, especially those involved with teaching or learning English as a second language. Подробнее

Just A Phrase I'm Going Through: My Life in Language

David Crystal, 2009

Kidnapping, attempted assassination, espionage…not the answers you’d expect to the question ‘what happens when you become a linguist?’ But now, reflecting on a long and hugely successful career at the forefront of the field of English Language and Linguistics, David Crystal answers this question and offers us a special look behind the scenes at the adventures, rewards, challenges and pitfalls of his life in language. Both an autobiography and a highly accessible introduction to the field of linguistics, Just a Phrase I’m Going Through illuminates and entertains us with its many insights into the ever-fascinating subject of language. David Crystal is synonymous with language, both as a great populariser and linguistic pioneer, and his contribution to the field is unparalleled. This is a book not just for students and teachers but for all lovers of language. Подробнее

By Hook or by Crook: A Journey in Search of English

David Crystal, 2008

A delightfully discursive, Bill Bryson-esque and personal journey through the groves and the thickets of the English language, by our foremost scholar of the history and structure of the English language. David Crystal has been described (by the Times Higher Education Supplement) as a sort of 'latter day Dr Johnson', a populist linguist who has promoted the study of the English language in an academic and broadcasting career that has so far spanned 40 years and nearly 100 books. Now he has written an engaging travel book of more general appeal. Inspired by W. G. Sebald's 'The Rings of Saturn' and by Bill Bryson's books, he has combined personal reflections, historical allusions and traveller observations to create a mesmerising (and entertaining) narrative account of his encounters with the English language and its speakers throughout the world — from Bangor to Bombay and from Stratford to San Francisco. 'By Hook or by Crook' is an attempt to capture the exploratory, seductive, teasing, tantalising nature of language study. As such, it will appeal to the ever-growing market who like to be entertained as well as instructed. Подробнее

By Hook or By Crook: A Journey in Search of English

David Crystal, 2008

In this delightful excursion through the English language, Crystal combines personal reflections, historical allusions, and a traveler's observations to create a mesmerizing and entertaining narrative account with the language and its speakers. Подробнее

Fight for English: How Language Pundits Ate, Shot, and Left

David Crystal, 2006

Lynne Truss's Eats, Shoots and Leaves injected new life into the long-standing arguments over rights and wrongs in English usage. Now David Crystal brings together his own distinctive style and unique expertise to provide the first thorough-going assessment of the ongoing debate. With a lively, humorous, and accessible approach, Crystal charts the battles past and present, illustrating the characters and attitudes involved from a wide range of written sources. He combines a chronological survey of key influences in the area of usage with discussion of particular themes such as punctuation, spelling, and pronunciation. And he looks ahead to the future in the context of recent education policy shifts. A positive and compelling case is made for variation in usage of English based on appropriateness of situation, arguing that 'zero tolerance' in relation to language is a profoundly flawed approach. Crystal offers an original and authoritative counter-argument to the prescriptivist agenda that has been expounded in many accounts of English usage over the years. The Fight for English is the book that everyone concerned with English usage has been eagerly awaiting. Подробнее

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language

David Crystal, 2010

This new, thoroughly revised edition of the acclaimed Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language incorporates the major developments in language study which have taken place since the mid 1990s. Two main new areas have been added: the rise of electronic communication in all its current forms from email to texting, and the crisis affecting the world's languages, of which half are thought to be so seriously endangered that they will die out this century. All language statistics have been updated, and additional information provided about their linguistic affiliation * All topics involving technology have been revised to take account of recent developments, notably in phonetics, language disability, and computing * Maps have been revised to include new countries or country names * Special attention has been paid to fast-moving areas such as language teaching and learning * The text design has been completely updated with many new illustrations throughout. Подробнее

How Language Works

David Crystal, 2006

This is a book about how language works, not about how the study of language works. Each chapter is designed as a self-contained unit, and there are many cross-references to associated chapters. This is the book's distinctive feature. Though above all, the book is a personal account without much ado about the methodology of linguistic inquiry. With a short bibliography. Подробнее

David Crystal

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