Word of Mouth

Word of Mouth
ISBN-10
0198662637
ISBN-13
9780198662631
Series
Word of Mouth
Category
English language
Pages
297
Language
English
Published
2002-01-01
Authors
Michael Rosen, Simon Elmes

Description

Since its inception in 1992, Word of Mouth has been one of BBC Radio 4's most successful programmes, with nearly one million listeners each week. This book-written by Simon Elmes, founder producer and editor of Word of Mouth, and Michael Rosen, the presenter-is a hugely entertainingcelebration of the English language. Based on transcripts from the programme, Simon Elmes and Michael Rosen have rewritten it and included newly researched material to make it completely up to date.The book boasts twelve sections on different topics, including 'Hot Desking' (email words, pilots' slang, euphemistic language), 'This Sporting Life' (ice dance terminology, Alistair McGowan, footballers' English) and 'It's the Law' (prisoners' language, police jargon, lawyers' rhetoric, thelanguage of hostage negotiation), and each of them highlight in different ways how rich and exciting the English Language is. A special feature is boxed texts in each chapter, giving contemporary British writers and the general public's favourite words, which was a project run by the programme in1999 where they explained their favourite words and why they are special. This is the ultimate enthusiast's guide to active English as we encounter it every day on the phone, in the supermarket or at work, and it covers any subject via its linguistic angle. From what words people have tattooed on their bodies to how the paint-manufacturer agonises over whether 'SpiceIsland' is a more suitable name than the perennial 'magnolia', Word of Mouth will prove essential reading to both avid followers of the programme to readers who are new to the joys of linguistic exploration.

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