This book narrates the history of English spelling from the Anglo-Saxons to the present-day, charting the various changes that have taken place and the impact these have had on the way we spell today. While good spelling is seen as socially and educationally desirable, many people struggle to spell common words like accommodate, occurrence, dependent. Is it our spelling system that is to blame, and should we therefore reform English spelling to make it easier to learn? Or are such calls for change further evidence of the dumbing-down of our educational standards, also witnessed by the tolerance of poor spelling in text-messaging and email? This book evaluates such views by considering previous attempts to reform the spelling of English and other languages, while also looking critically at claims that the electronic age heralds the demise of correct spelling.
Dirty Little Secrets for Translators
Apr
Apr
You Say Potato is yet another successful collaborative book by David Crystal and Ben Crystal. The title derives from Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off sung by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film Shall We Dance. (Already got the tune in your head?)
This book is written in the form of an extensive dialogue as you read a chapter by David Crystal followed by a chapter by Ben Crystal. This creative form of the book gives the impression of a live talk, and if you have encountered the authors before – you will almost hear the accents.Read more…
Apr
The Disappearing Dictionary: A Treasury of Lost English Dialect Words is a celebration of Joseph Wright’s monumental English Dialect Dictionary accomplished within thirty years and first published in part in 1898. Crystal’s book aims to revitalise the public interest in this fascinating resource for dialect words and raise greater awareness of its paramount importance to English dialectology.Read more…
Apr
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