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Word and Image in Arthurian Literature (Routledge Library Editions: Arthurian Literature)
by Keith BusbyOriginally published in 1996, the articles in this book are revised, expanded papers from a session at the 17th International Congress of the Arthurian Society held in 1993. The chapters cover Arthurian studies’ directions at the time, showcasing analysis of varied aspects of visual representation and relation to literary themes. Close attention to the historical context is a key feature of this work, investigating the linkage between texts and images in the Middle Ages and beyond.
Word by Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries
by Kory StamperDo you have strong feelings about the word “irregardless”? Have you ever tried to define the word “is”? Brimming with intelligence and personality, this vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made is a must-read for word mavens. Many of us take dictionaries for granted, and few may realize that the process of writing dictionaries is, in fact, as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what to define and how to do it, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why small words are the most difficult to define, how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. And along the way, she reveals little-known surprises—for example, the fact that “OMG” was first used in a letter to Winston Churchill in 1917. Word by Word brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a startlingly rich world inhabited by quirky and erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. Certain to be a delight for all lovers of words, Stamper’s debut will make you laugh as much as it makes you appreciate the wonderful complexities and eccentricities of the English language.
A Word for Every Day of the Year
by Steven PooleA weird and wonderful word and its meaning for every day of the year.Who knew that to dringle is to 'waste time in a lazy lingering manner'? Or that a sudden happy ending could be termed a eucotastrophe? Looking for an alternative word to 'bullshit'? Then try taradiddle.A Word for Every Day of the Year is a fascinating collection of 366 words and their definitions, perfect for anyone who loves the richness of the English language, its diversity and wants to expand their vocabulary. Each day offers a rare and remarkable word with its history and definition and occasionally a challenge to include it in our lives.
A Word for Every Day of the Year
by Steven PooleA weird and wonderful word and its meaning for every day of the year.'A lexicological delight' Professor David CrystalWho knew that to dringle is to 'waste time in a lazy lingering manner'? Or that a sudden happy ending could be termed a eucotastrophe? Looking for an alternative word to 'bullshit'? Then try taradiddle.A Word for Every Day of the Year is a fascinating collection of 366 words and their definitions, perfect for anyone who loves the richness of the English language, its diversity and wants to expand their vocabulary. Each day offers a rare and remarkable word with its history and definition and occasionally a challenge to include it in our lives.
Word for Word
by James E. Snyder JDAn ingeniously handy guide to help you transform chew into masticate, rainy into pluvian?or antediluvian into plain old old.Attorney James Snyder didn?t set out to write a book about words. But one day he looked up the word animadversion. The definition said it means the same thing as aspersion. He wasn?t quite sure what that meant, so he looked it up. It meant the same thing as slander. At last he was getting somewhere? and he stumbled upon an inconvenient truth about dictionaries: If you don?t know big words, they sometimes aren?t much help. So Snyder started collecting what he calls one-word definitions?simple words for fancy ones, and fancy words for simple ones. So whether you?re a penster (writer) looking for the right palabra (word), or just a solecistic (ungrammatical) malingerer (faker) trying to gasconade (show off ) to your gormless (stupid) yokemates (co-workers), this handy and engaging reference presents the right word for any occasion.
Word Fugitives: In Pursuit of Wanted Words
by Barbara WallraffDespite the many thousands of dictionary words at our disposal, our language can be dismayingly inadequate. How many times have you searched for a word that means just what you want it to but failed to find anything suitable anywhere? Most of us, it turns out, lead lives rife with experiences, people, and things that have no names.At least, they lacked names until now. Word Fugitives comes to the rescue, supplying hundreds of inspired words coined or redefined to meet everyday needs. For instance, wouldn't it be handy to have a word for the momentary confusion people experience when they hear a cell phone ringing and wonder whether it's theirs? (How about fauxcellarm, phonundrum, or pandephonium?)Or what about a word for offspring who are adults? (Try unchildren or offsprung.) Or a word for the irrational fear when you're throwing a party that no one will show up? (That might be guestlessness, empty-fest syndrome, or fete-alism.)This mind- and vocabulary-expanding book grew out -- way out -- of Barbara Wallraff's popular column in The Atlantic Monthly. Brimming with irresistible diversions and pop quizzes; illuminated by contributions and commentary from authors, linguists, and leading language authorities; and enlivened by pleas for help from people whose words have yet to be found, Word Fugitives will captivate and inspire anyone who ever struggles to describe the world that he or she, or they, or thon (thon? see page 141) lives in.
Word Nerds Unite!: The Fascinating Stories Behind 200 Words and Phrases
by Webb GarrisonWhy are spectacularly successful movies called blockbusters? Why does "putting your best foot forward" mean you hope to make a good impression? Why is rowdy and prankish behavior called horseplay and what does it have to do with the rarity of horses? Word Nerds Unite! shares 200 fascinating word meanings for fans of Wordle, Scrabble, and other word games.You've probably used words or phrases like these without giving them a second thought. But you'll be surprised and interested to discover the fascinating and sometimes curious origins to these fun sayings!In Word Nerds Unite! you'll find:200 quirky, interesting words, phrases, and colloquial termsBackstory for these colorful sayings still used todayHow some of our favorite expressions have evolved through the yearsYou'll discover such fascinating word and phrase origins for:handwriting on the wallplay for keepsraining cats and dogsbreak the icebull's eyeand many more!Word Nerds Unite! is perfect for word lovers, Wordle enthusiasts, homeschoolers, and anyone curious about the illuminating history of 200 words that pepper our everyday dialogue and how they gained contemporary use. Organized by subject, each chapter begins with a quote, an introductory paragraph, and a list of what you'll discover! This fun read is great for sharing with and gift-giving to the Word Nerd in your life--even you!
Word-of-Mouth in Contemporary Hollywood (Routledge Studies in Media and Cultural Industries)
by Simon HewittWord-of-Mouth in Contemporary Hollywood provides a unique insight into the potential for online communication to enable audiences to exert a greater impact on film industrial practices than ever before. In an overarching analysis of contemporary Hollywood film financing, marketing, distribution, and exhibition practices, Simon Hewitt recontextualises word-of-mouth in light of social media and examines the growing impact of audience participation. Using a ‘Bourdieuconomic’ approach, he applies qualitative research methods to better understand the contemporary Hollywood film audience, the contemporary Hollywood film industry, and the mechanisms that connect the two. The book explores new film financing mechanisms that incorporate fans into the packages used to secure production funds. It assesses the role of ‘Grassroots Intermediaries’ in contemporary film marketing campaigns. It critiques ‘democratic’ crowdsourced methods of film distribution, and finally, it considers the possible future of Hollywood film exhibition. By helping to bridge the gap between the gift economy and commodity culture, this book will appeal to students and scholars of media industry studies, media finance and economics, fan and audience studies, film studies, film history, and media marketing.
The Word on Management: A Topical Index of Scriptures for Managers and Employees (Second Edition)
by John E. Mulford Bruce E. WinstonThis guide is meant to be a beginning point for Bible study and as a reference. The organizational structure of the text is designed to allow an employee, supervisor or manager to quickly scan major sections and then to find specific areas of concern.
Word Outward: Medieval Perspectives on the Entry into Language (Studies in Medieval History and Culture #4)
by Corey J. MarvinUsing a combination of formalist and psychology-based approaches, this work examines the triple knowledge of subjectivity, body, and language in medieval imaginative literature.
Word Painting: A Guide to Writing More Descriptively
by Rebecca McclanahanLet Rebecca McClanahan guide you through an inspiring examination of description in its many forms. With her thoughtful instruction and engaging exercises, you'll learn to develop your senses and powers of observation to uncover the rich, evocative words that accurately portray your mind's images. McClanahan includes dozens of descriptive passages written by master poets and authors to illuminate the process. She also teaches you how to weave writing together using description as a unifying thread.
Word Painting Revised Edition: The Fine Art of Writing Descriptively
by Rebecca McclanahanPaint Masterful Descriptions on the Page! Writing strong descriptions is an art form, one that you need to carefully develop and practice. The words you choose to describe your characters, scenes, settings, and ideas--in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction--need to precisely illustrate the vision you want to convey. Word Painting Revised Edition shows you how to color your canvas with descriptions that captivate readers. Inside, you'll learn how to: Develop your powers of observation to uncover rich, evocative descriptions. Discover and craft original and imaginative metaphors and similes. Effectively and accurately describe characters and settings. Weave description seamlessly through your stories, essays, and poems. You'll also find dozens of descriptive passages from master authors and poets--as well as more than one hundred exercises--to illuminate the process. Whether you are writing a novel or a poem, a memoir or an essay, Word Painting Revised Edition will guide you in the creation of your own literary masterpiece.
Word Spy: The Word Lover's Guide to Modern Culture
by Paul McFedriesLanguage wears many hats, but its most important job is to help us name or describe what's in the world. Words define us, our actions, even our existence. And just when you think that you have all the words you need, you discover new ones, hear new uses for old ones or see them mutate right before your eyes—a neologism is born.Those neologisms are actually one of the best ways of keeping tabs on the way our world and culture are changing. One of the people who's been keeping tabs is Paul McFedries, the president of Logophilia Limited (logophilia is Greek for "the love of words"). His scorecard is Word Spy, a daily newsletter that has been reporting from the neological frontier since 1998 and that has more than 100,000 visitors a month and more than 12 million page views. In Word Spy, McFedries demonstrates how new words both reflect and illuminate not only the subcultures that coin them but also the larger culture in which these groups exist. Neologisms give us insight into the way things are even as they act as linguistic harbingers of what's to come. Each chapter of Word Spy is a cultural snapshot, a slice of the zeitgeist that focuses on a specific idea or sociological phenomenon, with an emphasis on the words and phrases that it has generated. These snapshots cover various aspects of modern life, including relationships, business, technology, war, aging, multiculturalism, and even fast food, all the while introducing us to hybrid words: If your kids can't seem to get away from their computers, they may be addicted to "fritterware" (time-wasting game software). If you're a new mother with a passion for petitioning, you may be a "lactivist" (breast-feeding activist). And if you keep finding yourself staying way later at the office than you ever imagined, you may be suffering from "presenteeism." Word Spy is an exciting and informative travelogue through the evolving landscape of our language and, consequently, the cultures and subcultures that continually mold and shape not just the language but all of us who speak it.
A Word to the Wise: Traditional Advice and Old Country Ways
by Ruth BinneyIf you've ever wondered whether carrots improve your vision (they do) and why elephants have great memories, consult A Word to the Wise. You'll discover that it's never too late to learn from a proverb or an old wives' tale. This captivating book is a fascinating compilation of age-old expressions and customs, and its insights cover everything from health tips and kitchen tricks to gardening know-how and hints for predicting the weather.Folklorist Ruth Binney explains the truth behind such traditions as polishing windows with newspaper and blowing out birthday candles in a single breath. She also discusses whether classic adages are still relevant or, like eating oysters only in "R" months, their truths have faded with the passage of time. This charmingly illustrated volume of enduring wisdom makes a splendid keepsake as well as a fine gift.
Wordbirds: An Irreverent Lexicon for the 21st Century
by Liesl Schillinger Elizabeth ZechelIf you've escaped binary confinement and find yourself rushing cell-mell to a clusterfete-- slurpwalking as you commutikaze--then who are you? You are a typical citizen of the young millennium, caught up in the fast-paced megatasking socio-professional whirl of our ever-evolving digitally-enhanced lives. If you've ever wondered what to call it when you answer the TV remote instead of the phone, or wished you had a phrase to capture your supervisor's stealth campaign to stall your career, here is your guide. Now you can say "Oops, droidian slip " with ease, and call out your boss for the impedimentor that he is. Armed with "Wordbirds," you will be able to skillfully talk your way into, or out of, any situation the twenty-first century throws at you. With 150 gorgeous, Audubony, highly expressive bird illustrations, these neologisms will have you crowing with delight, and show you that fine feathers make fine words. Why birds, you may ask? Hadn't you heard? The bird is the word. Now stop deliberotting and open this book.
Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words
by Phil CousineauWho knew that the great country of Canada is named for a mistake? How about "bedswerver," the best Elizabethan insult to hurl at a cheating boyfriend? By exploring the delightful back stories of the 250 words in Wordcatcher, readers are lured by language and entangled in etymologies. Author Phil Cousineau takes us on a tour into the obscure territory of word origins with great erudition and endearing curiosity. The English poet W. H. Auden was once asked to teach a poetry class, and when 200 students applied to study with him, he only had room for 20 of them. When asked how he chose his students, he said he picked the ones who actually loved words. So too, with this book -- it takes a special wordcatcher to create a treasure chest of remarkable words and their origins, and any word lover will relish the stories that Cousineau has discovered.
Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words
by Phil CousineauBy exploring the delightful back stories of the 250 words in Wordcatcher, readers are lured by language and entangled in etymologies. Author Phil Cousineau takes us on a tour into the obscure territory of word origins with great erudition and endearing curiosity.
Wordcatcher
by Phil CousineauWho knew that the great country of Canada is named for a mistake? How about "bedswerver," the best Elizabethan insult to hurl at a cheating boyfriend? By exploring the delightful back stories of the 250 words in Wordcatcher, readers are lured by language and entangled in etymologies. Author Phil Cousineau takes us on a tour into the obscure territory of word origins with great erudition and endearing curiosity. The English poet W. H. Auden was once asked to teach a poetry class, and when 200 students applied to study with him, he only had room for 20 of them. When asked how he chose his students, he said he picked the ones who actually loved words. So too, with this book - it takes a special wordcatcher to create a treasure chest of remarkable words and their origins, and any word lover will relish the stories that Cousineau has discovered.
Wordcraft: The Complete Guide to Clear, Powerful Writing (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing)
by Jack HartLegendary writing coach Jack Hart spent twenty-six years at the Oregonian and has taught students and professionals of all stripes, including bloggers, podcasters, and more than one Pulitzer Prize winner. Good writing, he says, has the same basic attributes regardless of genre or medium. Wordcraft shares Hart’s techniques for achieving those attributes in one of the most broadly useful writing books ever written. Originally published in 2006 as A Writer’s Coach, the book has been updated to address the needs of writers well beyond print journalists. Hart breaks the writing process into a series of manageable steps, from idea to polishing. Filled with real-world examples, both good and bad, Wordcraft shows how to bring such characteristics as force, brevity, clarity, rhythm, and color to any kind of writing. Wordcraft now functions as a set with the second edition of Hart’s book Storycraft, on the art of storytelling, also available from Chicago.
Wordly Wise 3000 Grade 3 Student Book: 2nd Edition (Wordly Wise 3000 Ser. #3)
by Kenneth Hodkinson Sandra AdamsWORDLY WISE 3000 SECOND EDITION BOOK 3
Words at Work: An Insider's Guide to the Language of Professions
by Mim HarrisonA fascinating view into the arcane nature of the workplace, Words at Work delves into fifteen professions--both ordinary and extraordinary--to discover the unique and colorful vocabulary that gives them their energy. The occupations are eclectic, from every day jobs like waste manager to singular positions like symphony orchestra musician; but the connections between words--which make you feel as though you're having a conversation with someone in the know--and Mim Harrison's skills as a writer, give readers an uncommon and highly perceptive glimpse into each of these worlds. Now you'll know what it means when the musician sheds the part(practices the music), the airline pilot mentions thewing walkers (the gate crew that guides your plane to a stop) and the waste manager yells out white goods (an appliance like a stove or refrigerator that is destined for the trash heap). Harrison is captivated by the singular vocabularies of these occupations and she shares her fascination with readers. Whether you're a linguaphile who has always been curious about the lingoes attached to professions, or starting out in one of the occupations and hoping to get a leg up on the vocabulary,Words at Work will both charm and educate. Mim Harrison has a unique ear for language, and a gifted light touch as a writer. That combination makes Words at Work a highly original entry in the crowded field of language books.
Words for the Wedding
by Wendy Paris"Come live with me and be my love. . . " Nothing personalizes a wedding more than using the right words. Brides- and grooms-to-be looking for unique, inspiring ways to celebrate their special day will find the best words of love in this practical guide. Romantic and witty, classic and contemporary, multicultural, pop-cultural, and just plain fun-if it's been said about love, it's in this book. Covering everything from invitations and wedding websites to readings, programs, party favors, and more, Words for the Wedding presents hundreds of classic and contemporary poems, quotes, quips, and blessings-from the Buddha to Bono-along with advice on how to use them most memorably. Whether you're planning a traditional nuptial or a do-it-yourself celebration on a shoestring, this useful and inspiring book will help you find all the right words to go along with "I do. " .
Words From the Garden: A Collection of Beautiful Poetry, Prose and Quotations
by Isobel CarlsonThis beautiful collection of poetry and prose through the seasons rhapsodises on the spectacle of colour and everything green and flourishing in the garden. The perfect book for a moment’s reflection, whether you are cooped up on a rainy day in your potting shed or admiring the fruits of your labour on a sunny evening from the pergola.
Words From the Garden: A Collection of Beautiful Poetry, Prose and Quotations
by Isobel CarlsonThis beautiful collection of poetry and prose through the seasons rhapsodises on the spectacle of colour and everything green and flourishing in the garden. The perfect book for a moment’s reflection, whether you are cooped up on a rainy day in your potting shed or admiring the fruits of your labour on a sunny evening from the pergola.