|
 
$9.95
Used Hardcover
Ships in 1 to 3 days
More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsThe Prodigal Tongue: Dispatches from the Future of Englishby Mark Abley
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:An exhilarating exploration of how the world's languages are likely to transform and be transformed by their speakers Mark Abley, author of Spoken Here, takes the reader on a global journey like no other—from Singapore to Tokyo, from Oxford to Los Angeles, through the Internet and back in time. As much a travel book as a tour of words at play, The Prodigal Tongue goes beyond grammar and vocabulary to discover how language is irrevocably changing the people of the world in far-reaching ways. On his travels, Abley encounters bloggers, translators, novelists, therapists, dictionary makers, hip-hop performers, and Web-savvy teens. He talks to a married couple who corresponded passionately online before they met in “meatspace.” And he listens to teenagers, puzzling out the words they coin in chat rooms and virtual worlds. Everywhere he goes, he asks what the future is likely to hold for the ways we communicate. Abley balances a traditional concern for honesty and accuracy in language with a less traditional delight in the sheer creative energy of new words and expressions. Provocative, perceptive, and often hilarious, this is a book for everyone who cherishes the words we use. Synopsis:The wild, wacky, and sometimes baffling road of the English language and its astonishing evolution is the subject of this evocative and thoughtful, yet always lively, book for anyone who cherishes the words they use. About the AuthorMark Abley, an award-winning journalist, writes for the Montreal Gazette, the Times Literary Supplement, and other publications. He speaks English, French, and a little Welsh. His previous book, Spoken Here, was named a Best Book of the Year by the San Francisco Chronicle and Discover magazine. He won a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2005 for work on language change and the future. Table of Contents1. Roarific: The Power of Language Change 1 2. Bouncebackability: How Words Are Created and Organized 25 3. Throw Away Your Dictionaries: Asian English 54 4. Your Rule Will Soon Be Here: Global English 78 5. Hippu Hangu: Language in Japan 101 6. Radiante: Languages in Los Angeles 122 7. Every Single Trend: Black English and Hip-Hop 144 8. words@future.now: Language in Cyberspace 167 9. Whoa, How Very: Words and the Fictional Future 193 10. The Souls Ozone: Keeping Language Real 216 Acknowledgments 237 Recommended Reading 239 Index 249 What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
Other books you might like
Related Aisles
|
||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
Follow us on...
|
|||||||||||||
Don't Miss
