Difference between revisions of "Word by Word"
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| − | '''''Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries''''' is a book about lexicography by [[Kory Stamper]]. In it, she describes the process lexicographers use to determine if something is a word, how they classify and group them, and a mini biography of her life and work at Merriam-Webster. | + | '''''Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries''''' is a book about lexicography by [[Kory Stamper]]. In it, she describes the process lexicographers use to determine if something is a word, how they classify and group them, and a mini biography of her life and work at Merriam-Webster and some of the more interesting and controversial words she's had to work on. |
| + | |||
| + | ==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. | ||
==Status== | ==Status== | ||
| − | I don't own this book, but I | + | I don't own this book, but I have listened to the audio book. |
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
| − | * The book is enjoyable to read. Stamper has a comfortable writing style and uses a lot of colloquialisms. | + | * 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. |
* 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 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 politics|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]]''. | ||
| + | * 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. | ||
===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
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[[Category: English]] | [[Category: English]] | ||
[[Category: Etymology]] | [[Category: Etymology]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Books I've Read]] | ||
Revision as of 09:39, 20 May 2020
Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries is a book about lexicography by Kory Stamper. In it, she describes the process lexicographers use to determine if something is a word, how they classify and group them, and a mini biography of her life and work at Merriam-Webster and some of the more interesting and controversial words she's had to work on.
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.
Status
I don't own this book, but I have listened to the audio book.
Review
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Bad
- Nothing.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Links
