Book Description
Mixed-up, mangled expressions; foreign-language faux pas; confused and confusing terms; commonly mispronounced words—they're all explained in this useful and entertaining guide.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent reference.......2007-09-17
I felt the book was so good that I ordered it for all 3 of my adult children. Public schools do not seem to have the time to teach correct English anymore.
Help for Writers.......2007-07-29
This book provides help with common language usage questions. As an engineer working for the federal government, writing is a large part of my job. I keep this book next to my computer, and rely on it frequently. The "word in question" and the "correct/incorrect" (or incorrect/correct) format is easy and quick to use; and in many cases the accompanying explanations are the best I've seen.
Don't let the title fool you. Great book........2007-05-26
This is a genuinely entertaining book, believe it or not. You might think of it as a reference book but I actually just sit and read it, page by page. One of my favorite quotes poked fun at the artificial rule that prohibits ending a sentence with a preposition: "This is the sort of English up with which I cannot put." Funny, right? Well, maybe it's not for everybody. My girlfriend didn't laugh either. Well, I laughed out loud. Beyond that, it is also very useful. I consider myself educated, but I learned a lot of useful tidbits. Granted, some of the entries were very basic, but this is a very minor complaint. In fact, it probably makes the book useful to a wider audience (including kids). Highly recommended (would make a great gift, too).
Common Errors in English Usage.......2007-02-27
Great book ! I recommend this book for anyone who is serious about improving communication skills.
Excellent resource .......2007-01-20
This is an excellent reference guide for the average person as well as the professional writer or editor. The various common errors are organized into logical groupings including lists of commonly confused words and the differences between them, commonly misused words and how they should be used, commonly confused expressions such as aural and oral or breach and breech. The author also includes common grammar, spelling, and style issues such as anyways and anyway or commas, capitalization, and accent marks. Other useful categories include sections on homonyms like site, sight, and cite, and commonly misspelled words like device, devise, miniature, or rapport. For those who don't seem to get things quite right there is a listing of commonly mangled expressions such as chomp at the bit compared with champ at the bit and a section of inexact words and phrases such as podium and lectern, or select and selected. There are even sections on pronunciation problems such as elicit and illicit or click and clique, redundancies such as added bonus or return back or time period, and commonly misused expressions such as critique and criticize or factoid. Common Errors in English Usage is a required reference for serious writers and an authoritative resource for those who want to improve the quality of their communication at any level.
Average customer rating:
- Very useful
- Great resource for linguists
- Nothing more than it says
- David Crystal gets right to the point
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A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (Language Library)
David Crystal
Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0631226648 |
Book Description
Completely revised and updated in its fifth edition, A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics is the standard single-volume reference for its field.The fifth edition incorporates new words or senses that have developed in linguistics recently, based on recommendations by a team of experts in phonetics, phonology, syntax, semantics and sociolinguistics. The dictionary now includes more than 5,000 terms, grouped into over 3,000 entries. The layout has been modified to increase the effectiveness of cross-referencing, all abbreviations have been included in a separate list at the beginning of the book, and a table of symbols has been added.
Customer Reviews:
Very useful.......2006-03-11
As a first year Master's student in TESOL, I have to read a lot of linguistics-related articles/books, and I am learning much of the terminology as I go. This book has saved me hours of googling for an adequate definition of unfamiliar terms/theories. If you have an interest in linguisitics, this book is a vital aid in making the literature accessible. Whether you are a beginner or not, this book should be a part of your library.
Great resource for linguists.......2005-10-13
The best general dictionary of linguitics on the market. I always find the words I'm looking for in this volume. Great reference book.
Nothing more than it says.......2003-08-15
Lucid prose. Good examples. Decent range. This dictionary is nothing more than it advertises. It is not an encyclopedia and therefore goes into very little depth. But it does collate terms from a broad range of disciplines within linguistics and has helped a novice like me become familiar with them (if not an expert). It is expecially good at describing how the meanings of terms have changed over time, or how they are employed in different contexts or sub-fields of linguistics.
David Crystal gets right to the point.......2000-05-11
the book is especially useful when preparing for an examination, because it gives that kind of information you are looking for, by getting right to the point. Very helpful are the cross-references which can serve as guidelines for further searches. David Crystal gives detailed and exact definitions of the most important terms of linguistics and phonetics, but he neglects some of the key terminology of historical linguistics. Looking for definitions in this field of study, one should rather consult Hartmann / Storck:Dictionary of Language and Linguistics. However, particularly in the field of phonetics and phonology the book is an undefeatable source of information.
Customer Reviews:
This is no longer the newest ed........2007-06-25
That first edition of 1991 was, in its turn, based on the original work in French by Paul Joüon published for the first time in 1923. This edition brings the work up to the present by taking account of developments in our understanding of the Hebrew language during the intervening years. For the first time the work is presented in a single volume. Professor Muraoka hopes that this helps to make the book more attractive and the content easier to use. As with the earlier edition students of the Old Testament, Hebrew and Semitics who have a basic knowledge of Biblical Hebrew will find much useful insight and information here.
If amazon had there act together they might make it available on there site so people would not have to go else where. This book has been out for 6 months.
Second only to Waltke O'Connor.......2003-12-27
Joön Muraoka is an excellent text. Lots of good info in there, but that info is presented via an old out-moded paradigm. Waltke O'Connor is better, though its prose is turgid. When doing exegesis, it helps to have both texts on hand.
Recently, I did an assessment of the Hiphil using JM, WO, and van der Merwe. Of those three, only WO had an in depth discussion; the information that JM had was shown to be outmoded in WO.
Nevertheless, JM is a keeper.
Excellent Modern Grammar.......2002-06-27
This is the only really up to date Hebrew Reference Grammar. All the most modern and accurate theories are clearly presented, and the guidelines for pronunciation are excellent. Watch out for typos, though.
An indispensable reference in English.......2002-01-12
If you
cannot read German but you can read English,
your native language is not a Semitic language,
you have passed elementary Biblical Hebrew and
you are reading the Hebrew Bible,
you must have the two volumes of Jouon-Muraoka handy! They are indispensable, readable and helpful!
If your budget forces you to choose between Gesenius-Kautsch-Cowley and Jouon-Muraoka, buy Jouon-Muraoka now and GKC later. You also absolutely need to have Williams' "Syntax."
A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew, Paul Jouon, S.J.-T. Muraoka.......2000-07-16
Clear, modern, and standard grammer with Muraoka's additions. Indespensable study tool for linguistic biblical hebrew study.
Book Description
This well-illustrated volume provides the best collection of Etruscan inscriptions and texts currently in print. A substantial archeological introduction sets language and inscriptions in their historical, geographical, and cultural context. The overview of Etruscan grammar, the glossary, and chapters on mythological figures all incorporate the latest innovative discoveries.
Customer Reviews:
What Else is There?.......2006-08-01
I'm getting a little tired of reviewers who bash a book that is about a hard-to-find topic, then end their reviews with "look elsewhere", or "this was a good introduction, BUT..." I mean, where else would you look for a book on the Etruscan language? And what is all this about "comparative"?? Did the previous reviewer just learn this word? One can only find so much on a dead language. If you know so much, then please give us some book titles that can help us go even farther in our studies.
Not quite as interesting as I thought........2005-10-22
THE ETRUSCAN LANGUAGE: An Introduction by Giuliano and Larissa Bonfante, the second edition of which appeared in 2002, is one of the few resources in English on this enigmatic language of early Italy. As a student of comparative linguistics, I thought that the work would be interesting and would include some discussion of the possible links between Etruscan and other language families. However, the authors show some dislike of the comparative method and are unwilling to consider Etruscan in a comparative context.
The book is divided into three parts. First comes the historical background, i.e. who the Etruscan people were. The discussion of the language itself comes in the second part, a meagre grammar with most of the phonology and morphology that can be discerned from available evidence. The third part, "Study aids", has sample inscriptions and texts and glossaries.
I imagine that this book will be most useful to archaeologists and historians who need some basic understanding of the language. Comparative linguists will want to look elsewhere.
Book Description
This clear and well-organized book is an introduction to Spanish syntax that assumes no prior knowledge of current theory. Following a descriptive overview of the major characteristics of the grammar, it describes facts about Spanish, such as its word order, notions of "subject", "direct object", "auxiliary verb" etc... The book combines traditional grammatical description with perspectives gained from recent research in the Principles and Parameters framework. It also presents useful theoretical concepts such as semantic roles, Case, and Predication.
Average customer rating:
- A Dictionary of Phonetics and Phonology
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Dictionary of Phonetics and Phonology (Linguistics)
R.L. Trask
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
English (British)
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ASIN: 0415112613 |
Book Description
Written for students of linguistics, applied linguistics and speech therapy, this dictionary of technical terms covers nearly 1600 terms and includes a full bibliography. Each word is provided with a pronunciation, a part-of-speech label, synonyms and antonyms, any standard abbreviation and one or more definitions with examples. For the more important terms, further reading will be suggested, and whenever possible, the source of the term will be identified.
Customer Reviews:
A Dictionary of Phonetics and Phonology.......2000-04-01
This book is a must for all students of phonetics and linguistics as well as for those working in this area. The dictionary is particularly comprehensive in articulatory phonetics, structural, and generative phonology. An asset of the book is the inclusion of outdated terminology which are difficult to find in other liguistc dictionaries. It also covers basic terms used in acoustics and auditory phonetics. However, I find it a little wanting in this latter areas. A valuable feature is the transcription of the words (definitly helpful for non native speakers of English and/or for those not familiar with phonetics).
Customer Reviews:
decent Polish-English dictionary.......2006-10-31
I like the layout of the dictionary (the sections of useful material), and the pronunciation guides.
I think it is lacking in the number of words that it translates from the Polish to the English, in particular. Truly wish it had more words than it does, so must give it no more than 3 stars.
Expected more common words.......2005-01-20
I purchased this dictionary because I had to write letters in Polish. I speak Polish; but, I have difficulty in reading and writing it. I found that the dictionary was lacking in quite a few Polish translations for common words.
Very Good Book.......2003-11-21
My 8 year old is learning polish (her choice) and this book has really helped alot! Not only has it helped her but it has also helped my aunt who speaks mostly polish, with helping with her homework.
It also includes alot of extras like numbers, months, and the pronunciation cz, wz and so on. I highly recommend if help is needed in either english or polish.
Amazon.com
"When it comes to pronunciation," says Charles Harrington Elster, "there are two types of people: Those who don't give the subject a second thought and those who do. This book is for those who do." Those who don't will likely dismiss it as a conglomeration of minutiae (mi-N[Y]oo-shee-ee). Elster's Big Book of Beastly Mispronunciations combines and expands upon his two previous books on the subject, offering historical pronunciations, authoritative opinions (his own and others'), and meandering explanations. This book is more entertaining than a game of badminton (don't say, "BAD-mitten," which Elster considers sloppy) and more lasting than a daiquiri (that's "DY-kuh-ree"). And best of all, you'll tighten up that flaccid ("FLAK-sid") pronunciation. Kudos ("KOO-dahs") to Elster for setting us straight. For now, anyway--there's a neologism ("nee-AHL-uh-jiz'm") born every day. --Jane Steinberg
Book Description
How do you pronounce affluent: AF-loo-int or uh-FLOO-int? Does it make a difference? Charles Harrington Elster believes that yes, it does make a difference (and that, for the record, one should pronounce the word AF-loo-int). Elster, the author of Is There a Cow in Moscow? and There Is No Zoo in Zoology, has chosen more than six hundred of our most commonly mispronounced words, arranged them alphabetically, and written entertaining essays that unapologetically offer his informed opinion as to why a word should be pronounced a particular way. Where pronunciations commonly vary or dictionaries disagree, Elster is an eager arbiter. Easy to use (there aren't any confusing diacritical marks), and with references from Will Shakespeare to Will Smith (for "aunt") and Jerry Seinfeld (for "clitoris"), this is an excellent argument-settler - and debate-starter. A Houghton Mifflin Paperback original.
Customer Reviews:
Can you pronounce pronunciation?.......2006-03-09
It's not pro-NOUN-see-AY-shin. It's pruh-NUHN-see-AY-shin. Open this book at random and learn something. Deluge is "DEL-yooj (like dell plus huge without the h)." Demur is di-MUR, not di-MYOOR. "Pronounce mur as in murder, not as in mural." Once it's in your reference library you'll wonder how you ever got along without it.
Definitely worth reading.......2006-03-08
I realize language changes over time, and eventually new ways of pronouncing words are adopted. However, there are still a lot of words that seem to confuse people. I have even seen people argue over it.
This book has "proper" pronunciations of English words. While I wouldn't go as far as he does pronouncing words adopted from other languages, I definitely get irritated when people don't use their "native" language properly.
Incredible!.......2005-02-01
The name of this book is what caught my eye, but, as soon as I opened it, I realized how great it is. I learned of quite a few mistakes I make, and often WHY. The author's somewhat ranting tone makes an otherwise dense and boring subject a bit more approachable. I highly recommend this book.
-1star (reference value) + 2 stars (entertainment value).......2001-09-23
[...]. the author's rules are, indeed, entirely arbitrary.
simply performing a mental utterance of many of his "proper" pronunciations affected me as strongly as a fingernail on a blackboard.
i take particular exception to his endorsement of the mutilation of the many japanese words that have found their way into our vocabulary.
for the most part, our alphabet is capable of approximating japanese words. as in spanish borrowed words, where one shouldn't be expected to trill the "r", (i loved the reference to the saturday night live sketch with jimmy smits!) the pronunciation can be anglicized, but i don't understand his endorsement -- and sometimes origination -- of whimsically swapping out entire syllables.
i can guess what he considers to be the correct pronunciations of "tokyo" and "kyoto". but i assure you, each of these words have TWO syllables -- not THREE, not FIVE.
additionally, (and i may be in a minority here) i'm bothered by his overweening love of the schwa, with which he replaces almost every instance of a short vowel in an unstressed syllable, thus endorsing an inarticulate mush-mouthed uh-mur-uh-cun-uh-zay-shun of the language and his erratic syllable division greatly reduces the already shrinking list of words which have etymologically sound pronunciations.
Passionate and Wonderful!.......2001-08-20
Elster could be a blow-hard. He could be a nauseating pedant. Instead, he's the charmingly gnomish author of this magnificently entertaining book. Like many of us, he had a mother who would pin his ears to the wall if he dared confuse who with whom. And this guy's mom knew that "flaccid" is pronounced "Flak-sid", did you? Or how's this: try ordering a "daiquiri" (Dy-kuh-ree). Good luck; but of course you'll be correct. This very BIG book of "beastly" mispronunciations is gleefully entertaining. You won't just get the correct pronunciations, but concise reasoning on why a word crept into the language, why it should be tossed out, who corrupted it, and why we tend to garble nuclear (N(Y)oo-kle-ur), while clinging to the "psuedo-French"- ified envelope (AHN-vul-lohp). This could be nothing more than a pesky book, but Elster is so passionate about the Language, and so wildly fun that it's just great reading-- if not terminally humbling. Three distinct groups deserve this gift: Post-modernists who will turn away in horror (then read it on the sly), people who speak English, and those who find in words the delicate beauty of a very good opera-- when sung correctly.
Average customer rating:
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Reconstructing Prehistorical Dialects: Initial Vowels in Slavic and Baltic (Trends in Linguistics: Studies and Monographs)
Henning Andersen
Manufacturer: Mouton de Gruyter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 311014705X |
Book Description
The Oxford Dictionary of Pronunciation, now published in paperback, is the most up-to-date record of the pronunciation of British and American English. Based on research by a joint UK and US team of linguistics experts, with support from Oxford English Dictionaries, it is a unique survey of how English is really spoken in the twenty-first century. The dictionary offers a full reappraisal of the pronunciation models for modern British and American English. Whereas other pronunciation dictionaries use a model which is rooted in the speech of the middle of the last century, this dictionary presents a model of actual, modern English. It is also the most comprehensive dictionary of its type available, and the only one to give full transcriptions for British and American English for every word. British English is recorded using modern RP, while the aim in recording American English pronunciations has been to produce a standard model, with avoidance of marked regional features. Pronunciations have been recorded using the internationally recognized IPA.
Customer Reviews:
an excellent pronunuciation dictionary.......2007-10-18
The market for this type of dictionary is traditionally dominated by the umpteenths re-editions of Daniel Jones' dictionary, so much so that university phonetics instructors often seem not to know that there are others...Well, they should have a look at this one. Compared to the other new (and great) pronunciation dictionary, that of John Wells [published by Longman's], Clive Upton's dictionary does not have the articles, polls about variants, and other useful add-ons of John Wells' dictionary: what we have here is a basic (but comprehensive) dictionary with the pronunciation of each word given in British and American English. And that is all, but the transcription system is probably the most accurate of the three dictionaries. If you are a serious student of English phonetics, I would recommend having both John Wells' and Clive Upton 's dictionaries - Clive Upton's for immediate reference andd John Wells' if you want to go further. They complete each other nicely. You can safely forget about Daniel Jones' - even it is still recommended by most university instructors, who would be well-advised to update their reading lists at least once a century.
Let me save you the trouble..........2003-03-29
If you are looking for a pronunciation dictionary that is current, lists variants, discusses variants that have equal numbers of adherents, makes suggestions for preferred pronunciations, gives data about what percentage of people prefer such and such a pronunciation, and is attractively printed, do not get this one. This is plainly packaged, has very little explanatory information (Longman's has over 200 charts and many explanatory notes), gives no data as to who prefers what or how many, gives little direction, etc. A dull affair all around. The Longman Pronunciation Dictionary is multicolored, informative, and fascinating to read. When there are dramatic variants, Longman explains the issues clearly. Longman also includes a removable phonetics chart so you do not need to keep flipping to the key in the front of the book. I am a speech therapist and I find myself going to Longman on a daily basis while the Oxford dictionary sits on the shelf.
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