Difference between revisions of "Word by Word"

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[[Image:Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US hardcover, 1st edition.]]
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{{Book
 +
| Title            = Word by Word
 +
| SortTitle        = Word by Word: Secret Life of Dictionaries, The
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| Image           = Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg
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| ImageDescription = Hardcover - USA - 1st edition.
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| Author          = {{BookAuthor|Kory Stamper}}
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| PublishedYear    = 2017
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| PublishedMonth  = 03
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| PublishedDay    = 14
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| Type            = {{BookType|Non-fiction}}
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| Genre            = {{BookGenre|Educational}}
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| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|English}}, {{MediaTheme|Etymology}}, {{MediaTheme|Language}}, {{MediaTheme|Lexicography}}
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| AgeGroup        = Adult
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}}
  
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'''''Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries''''' is a book about lexicography by [[Kory Stamper]]. In it, she describes in detail the process lexicographers use to create dictionaries including how to determine if a word is worthy of an entry word, how to classify them, and how to write and change definitions over time. The books also includes a mini biography of Stamper's life and work at Merriam-Webster and some of the more interesting and controversial words she's had to work on.
+
'''''Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries''''' is a book about lexicography by [[Kory Stamper]] first published on 2017-03-14.
 +
 
 +
In the book, Stamper describes in detail the process lexicographers use to create dictionaries including how to determine if a word is worthy of an entry word, how to classify them, and how to write and change definitions over time. The book also includes a mini biography of Stamper's life and work at [[Merriam-Webster]] and some of the more interesting and controversial words she's had to work on.
  
 
==Personal==
 
==Personal==
−
Being a fan of words and dictionaries, I started reading this book. After only a short way into it I was already loving it, so I quickly read through the rest of it and found it very enjoyable.
+
{{BookStatus
 +
| Own      =
 +
| Read    = Audiobook read by [[Kory Stamper]].
 +
| Finished = 2020-05-19.
 +
}}
  
−
==Status==
+
Being a fan of words and dictionaries, I started reading this book. After only a short way into it I was already loving it, so I quickly read through the rest of it and found it very enjoyable and educational.
−
I don't own this book, but I have listened to the audio book.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 +
{{BookRating|9}}
 +
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* The book is enjoyable to read. Stamper has a comfortable writing style and uses a lot of colloquialisms and doesn't shy from colorful curse words when the situation calls for it.
 
* The book is enjoyable to read. Stamper has a comfortable writing style and uses a lot of colloquialisms and doesn't shy from colorful curse words when the situation calls for it.
 +
* After reading this book, I came away with a much better understanding and appreciation of the English language, it's written form, and the science of trying to understand it.
 
* Stamper uses a wide array of vocabulary throughout the book. Although, as a lexicographer, it would be criminal if she did not.
 
* Stamper uses a wide array of vocabulary throughout the book. Although, as a lexicographer, it would be criminal if she did not.
 
* Stamper does a good job explaining the basics of the English language including grammar, word usage, and the various categories we use to describe them. She also neatly explains the job of a lexicographer and how it can be unexpectedly difficult.
 
* Stamper does a good job explaining the basics of the English language including grammar, word usage, and the various categories we use to describe them. She also neatly explains the job of a lexicographer and how it can be unexpectedly difficult.
−
* Stamper makes a great case for descriptive rather than prescriptive English, explains why respelling words to match their pronunciation is a doomed prospect, and discusses why English is nourished by dialects, especially those viewed as inferior, and points out how the hatred of dialects is often a [[dog-whistle politics|dog whistle]].
+
* Stamper makes a great case for descriptive rather than prescriptive English, explains why respelling words to match their pronunciation is a doomed prospect, and discusses why English is nourished by dialects, especially those viewed as inferior, and points out how the hatred of dialects is often a [[dog whistle]].
 
* The audio book is read by the author, who sounds not unlike [[Tracy Grandstaff]], the voice actor of Daria from the show ''[[Daria]]''.
 
* The audio book is read by the author, who sounds not unlike [[Tracy Grandstaff]], the voice actor of Daria from the show ''[[Daria]]''.
−
* After reading this book, I came away with a much better understanding and appreciation of the language, the writing, and the science of trying to understand it.
+
* It was interesting hearing about all the shit Stamper had to deal with answering the hundreds of emails from people who either suck at English, or don't understand what a dictionary is.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
Line 25: Line 46:
  
 
==Media==
 
==Media==
 +
===Covers===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|US hardcover, 1st edition.  
 
Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg|US hardcover, 1st edition.  
 
Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Paperback - USA.jpg|US paperback.  
 
Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Paperback - USA.jpg|US paperback.  
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|4-GZljHliRU|Interview - The A.V. Club.}}
 +
{{YouTube|Yguy8tY15dM|Book lecture.}}
 +
{{YouTube|sFgxVuuYLCU|Book lecture.}}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
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[[Category: Books]]
 
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[[Category: Non-Fiction]]
 
 
[[Category: Language]]
 
[[Category: Language]]
 
[[Category: English]]
 
[[Category: English]]
 
[[Category: Etymology]]
 
[[Category: Etymology]]
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[[Category: Books I've Read]]
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[[Category: Lexicography]]
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[[Category: Favorite]]
 +
[[Category: Favorite Books]]

Latest revision as of 18:09, 5 March 2023

Word by Word

Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg

Hardcover - USA - 1st edition.
Author Kory Stamper
Published 2017-03-14
Type Non-fiction
Genre Educational
Themes English, Etymology, Language, Lexicography
Age Group Adult

Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries is a book about lexicography by Kory Stamper first published on 2017-03-14.

In the book, Stamper describes in detail the process lexicographers use to create dictionaries including how to determine if a word is worthy of an entry word, how to classify them, and how to write and change definitions over time. The book also includes a mini biography of Stamper's life and work at Merriam-Webster and some of the more interesting and controversial words she's had to work on.

Personal

Own?No.
Read?Audiobook read by Kory Stamper.
Finished2020-05-19.

Being a fan of words and dictionaries, I started reading this book. After only a short way into it I was already loving it, so I quickly read through the rest of it and found it very enjoyable and educational.

Review

Overall:

Rating-9.svg

Good

  • The book is enjoyable to read. Stamper has a comfortable writing style and uses a lot of colloquialisms and doesn't shy from colorful curse words when the situation calls for it.
  • After reading this book, I came away with a much better understanding and appreciation of the English language, it's written form, and the science of trying to understand it.
  • Stamper uses a wide array of vocabulary throughout the book. Although, as a lexicographer, it would be criminal if she did not.
  • Stamper does a good job explaining the basics of the English language including grammar, word usage, and the various categories we use to describe them. She also neatly explains the job of a lexicographer and how it can be unexpectedly difficult.
  • Stamper makes a great case for descriptive rather than prescriptive English, explains why respelling words to match their pronunciation is a doomed prospect, and discusses why English is nourished by dialects, especially those viewed as inferior, and points out how the hatred of dialects is often a dog whistle.
  • The audio book is read by the author, who sounds not unlike Tracy Grandstaff, the voice actor of Daria from the show Daria.
  • It was interesting hearing about all the shit Stamper had to deal with answering the hundreds of emails from people who either suck at English, or don't understand what a dictionary is.

Bad

  • Nothing.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Covers

  • US hardcover, 1st edition.

  • US paperback.

Videos

Interview - The A.V. Club.
Book lecture.
Book lecture.

Links

Link-GoodReads.png 

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