Cart
Free Shipping in Australia
Proud to be B-Corp

The Language Wars Henry Hitchings

The Language Wars By Henry Hitchings

The Language Wars by Henry Hitchings


$33.99
Condition - Very Good
Only 4 left

Summary

What really is correctness? Why do people care so much about it? What is at stake in the quarrel about good and bad usage?

The Language Wars Summary

The Language Wars by Henry Hitchings

The English language is a battlefield. Since the age of Shakespeare, arguments over correct usage have been acrimonious, and those involved have always really been contesting values - to do with morality, politics and class. THE LANGUAGE WARS examines the present state of the conflict, its history and its future. Above all, it uses the past as a way of illuminating the present. Moving chronologically, the book explores the most persistent issues to do with English and unpacks the history of 'proper' usage. Where did these ideas spring from? Which of today's bugbears and annoyances are actually venerable? Who has been on the front line in the language wars? THE LANGUAGE WARS examines grammar rules, regional accents, swearing, spelling, dictionaries, political correctness, and the role of electronic media in reshaping language. It also takes a look at such niggling concerns as the split infinitive, elocution and text messaging. Peopled with intriguing characters such as Jonathan Swift, H. W. Fowler and George Orwell as well as the more disparate figures of Lewis Carroll, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Lenny Bruce, THE LANGUAGE WARS is an essential volume for anyone interested in the state of the English language today or intrigued about its future.

The Language Wars Reviews

'[Hitchings] writes beautiful prose, witty and succinct. His book is full of complex ideas expressed with crystal clarity ... The range of his knowledge and curiosity is remarkable ... Every paragraph contains a fascinating detail about the English language ... I recommend that you rush out to immediately buy it, or to buy it immediately, whichever you prefer.' -- Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday, Five Star Review 20110130 'This richly detailed and often delightfully combative book is a historical guide to the sometimes splenetic battles that have been fought over [English] down the centuries ... a pleasure to read.' -- Andrew Holgate, Sunday Times 20110130 'Crisply written, amusing, informative and thought-provoking. Anyone interested in the English language and its history should read it.' -- Charles Moore, The Telegraph 20110130 'Hitchings' exemplary researches and disinterested, perceptive and often witty explications, make it clear that one cannot glibly dismiss these struggles over what makes English "proper" ... Hitchings has created a fascinating, wholly readable and gratifyingly informative book.' -- Financial Times 20110130 'Agreeable and informative' -- Independent 20110130 'The Language Wars asks us to think beyond tradition, habit and deference, and to consider what we want from our words. It is a very intelligent and polite call to arms, but a call to arms nonetheless.' -- Observer 20110130 'The Language Wars takes the reader on a Cook's tour of complaints about English past and present ...' -- Deborah Cameron, Guardian 20110130 'It is a breath of fresh air (if that is the right cliche) to wander the byways of language without always being nudged to laugh at prescriptivists' foolish nostrums.' -- Daily Telegraph 20110130 'A superb survey' -- Reader's Digest 20110130 'Those who bemoan the state of literacy should turn to Henry Hitchings' history of the centuries-old battles over correct usage to disavow themselves of the notion that such complaints are anything new...The Language Wars offers a hopeful perspective on this old debate.' -- Metro 20110130 A very intelligent call to arms -- The Week 20110130 'Hitchings's three books have helped make language studies sexy' -- Literary Review 20110130

About Henry Hitchings

Henry Hitchings was born in 1974. He is the author of The Secret Life of Words, which won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, Who's Afraid of Jane Austen? and Dr Johnson's Dictionary. He has contributed to many newspapers and magazines and is theatre critic for the London Evening Standard.

Additional information

GOR003197784
9781848542082
1848542089
The Language Wars by Henry Hitchings
Used - Very Good
Hardback
John Murray Press
2011-02-03
416
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - The Language Wars