How Language Works: How Babies Babble, Words Change Meaning, and Languages Live or Die


David Crystal - 2006
    Along the way, we find out about eyebrow flashes, whistling languages, how parents teach their children to speak, how politeness travels across languages and how the way we talk show not just how old we are but where we're from and even who we want to be.Whether looking at the whistle languages of the Canary Islands or describing the layout of the human throat, this landmark book will enrich the lives of everyone who reads it.

A Word A Day: A Romp Through Some of the Most Unusual and Intriguing Words in English


Anu Garg - 2002
    Now at last here's a feast for them and other verbivores. Eat up!-Barbara WallraffSenior Editor at The Atlantic Monthly and author of Word CourtPraise for A Word a Day"AWADies will be familiar with Anu Garg's refreshing approach to words: words are fun and they have fascinating histories. The people who use them have curious stories to tell too, and this collection incorporates some of the correspondence received by the editors at the AWAD site, from advice on how to outsmart your opponent in a duel (or even a truel) to a cluster of your favorite mondegreens."-John Simpson, Chief Editor, Oxford English Dictionary"A banquet of words! Feast and be nourished!"-Richard Lederer, author of The Miracle of LanguageWritten by the founder of the wildly popular A Word A Day Web site (www.wordsmith.org), this collection of unusual, obscure, and exotic English words will delight writers, scholars, crossword puzzlers, and word buffs of every ilk. The words are grouped in intriguing categories that range from "Portmanteaux" to "Words That Make the Spell-Checker Ineffective." each entry includes a concise definition, etymology, and usage example-and many feature fascinating and hilarious commentaries by A Word A Day subscribers and the authors.

Le Pendentif, Easy Short Stories with English Glossary (Easy French Reader Series for Beginners t. 1)


Sylvie Lainé - 2013
    It's a pleasant way of expanding one’s vocabulary, immersing in the French language and building confidence. There is no need for a dictionnary: key words are listed under each paragraph and translated out of the context. At the end of the book, all new words are summed up in a complete vocabulary section. Simple and easy to read, the short stories use a good mix of grammar constructs, with basic and useful vocabulary. The stories are written in tenses used in normal conversation : present tense, and just a little bit of future tense, passé composé and imparfait. With the MP3, you can practice your pronunciation and your listening (40 minutes/ read by the author). These stories are now available in the past tenses passé composé and imparfait [ASIN: B00PM4SO5M] Beginners : Level A0 - A1 About the author : Sylvie Lainé lives in Normandy where she teaches French to adults and teenagers. Her work with students of various nationalities and different ages allowed her to understand their difficulties and their challenges. Having looked for enjoyable reads to occasionnaly escape grammar and exercise books, but finding nothing simple enough for her beginners, she came up with the idea to write stories herself. She is passionate about writing and now publishes short stories tailored to the needs of English speakers.

The Naughty Little Book of Gaelic: All the Scottish Gaelic You Need to Curse, Swear, Drink, Smoke and Fool Around


Michael Newton - 2014
    Standards of morality and social conventions changed dramatically during the 19th century – and most of the people engaged in recording and commenting upon Highland life and tradition were puritanical ministers and priests who left out the racy bits. So, while there are many useful books that provide a wide range of Scottish Gaelic vocabulary to express many aspects of daily life – for the most part, they leave out the naughty bits.

Aleph Isn't Tough: An Introduction to Hebrew for Adults (Book 1)


Linda Motzkin - 2000
    By carefully introducing the letters and vowels of the Hebrew alphabet, the goal is to develop the reader's ability to decode written Hebrew words as well as to ground the learning of Hebrew in the broader sense of its use in Jewish life, ritual, study, and tradition. Each chapter introduces two or three Hebrew letters; through instructional drills and exercises, the reader progressively becomes familiar with key Hebrew vocabulary and its role in Jewish tradition, text, and prayer.

Easy Peasy Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners


Elinor Greenwood - 2007
    Give yourself a Chinese name, see how to haggle in the shops and test yourself to see if you know the key characters.

Miss Manners on Painfully Proper Weddings


Judith Martin - 1995
    In her trademark bossy, witty, and authoritative way, Miss Manners gives advice that will make the big day more pleasant for one and all, including the bride. 15 line drawings.

On-Camera Flash Techniques for Digital Wedding and Portrait Photography


Neil van Niekerk - 2009
    Techniques for using simple accessories such as bounce cards and diffusers, as well as how to improve a lighting scenario by enhancing it rather than overwhelming it, show photographers how to master this challenging aspect of portraiture.

Simple and Direct: A Rhetoric for Writers


Jacques Barzun - 1975
    His discussions of diction, syntax, tone, meaning, composition, and revision guide the reader through the technique of making the written word clear and agreeable to read. Exercises, model passages both literary and casual, and hundreds of amusing examples of usage gone wrong show how to choose the right path to self-expression in forceful and distinctive words.

Deutsch: Na Klar! An Introductory German Course


Robert Di Donato - 1990
    The sixth edition preserves the hallmark features that instructors have come to trust, and through its use of current, authentic cultural materials, Deutsch: Na klar! teaches students how to use German in real-life situations effectively and how to communicate successfully in the German-speaking world.

Love Leadership: The New Way to Lead in a Fear-Based World


John Hope Bryant - 2009
    presidents, this groundbreaking book makes the case that the best way to get ahead is to figure out what you have to give to a world seemingly obsessed with the question: What do I get? Aimed at a new generation of leaders and extremely relevant for today's economic climate, Love Leadership outlines Bryant's five laws of love-based leadership-Loss Creates Leaders (there can be no strength without legitimate suffering), Fear Fails (only respect and love leads to success), Love Makes Money (love is at the core of true wealth), Vulnerability is Power (when you open up to people they open up to you), and Giving is Getting (the more you offer to others, the more they will give back to you).One of today's most influential leaders, Bryant has appeared on Oprah and in articles in the LA Times, NY Times, and the Wall Street JournalBryant's bold approach to leadership is well-suited for today's tough economic environment and a world gripped by fear and uncertainty Outlines the innovative five laws of love-based leadership Love Leadership is that unique and powerful book that bridges the gap between solid business advice and pure inspiration.

Tharoorosaurus


Shashi Tharoor - 2020
    In Tharoorosaurus, he shares fifty-three examples from his vocabulary: unusual words from every letter of the alphabet. You don't have to be a linguaphile to enjoy the fun facts and interesting anecdotes behind the words! Be ready to impress-and say goodbye to your hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia!

English Fluency For Advanced English Speaker: How To Unlock The Full Potential To Speak English Fluently


Whitney Nelson - 2015
    Regardless of what actions are taken, progression is slow or limited.Here is a checklist to see if this guide is for you. You Are an Advanced English Speaker If.. ✔ You can understand 70% of an English speaking movie.✔ You can answer simple questions in a conversation, but you have a hard time elaborate your points when trying to explain in more details.✔ You can have a short conversation, but you stutter sometimes when you speak.✔ You can write better than you speak.✔ You stutter when you try to speak fast.✔ You can speak quite well, but you have a strong accent.If one of those sounds familiar to you, perhaps you have found the right book. This book is essential for you to break through and not only improving your spoken skills but developing them so well that you can speak like a native English speaker.Armed with the proven tips, tricks, and techniques in this book, you’ll discover that you’ll be soaring to an entirely new and exciting level of learning within days. On top of that, these guidelines can be used nearly effortlessly. Proven Technique That Works You’ll discover what “shadowing” is and how it can painlessly take you to a supreme status in your studies. You’ll also learn about a related method of learning to pronounce English fearlessly. It’s called the “scriptorium method.” Once you try it you’ll realize why so many people praise its effectiveness.English is not an easy language to learn. But if you are using proper methods to learn and speak, you’ll find that your next level of learning is just a click away. Learn and adopt these techniques, tips, and many more secrets revealed in this book, and your English fluency will be on a whole different level in 60 days !Remember: Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.Download Now and Start Speaking Fluent English!

Speak Japanese in 90 Days: A Self Study Guide to Becoming Fluent: Volume One


Kevin Marx - 2015
    Thank you! Want to speak Japanese but don't know where to start? This book is for you! Don't waste money buying ten different books when you can learn everything you need in this one book. Don't waste money taking classes at a school when you can teach yourself. With Speak Japanese in 90 Days, all of the prep work is done for you. Each daily lesson will teach you not only what, but how to study. Speak Japanese in 90 Days is a comprehensive self study guide, and teaches everything you need to know for the JLPT N5 (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) as well as most of the grammar needed for the JLPT N4. It can also be used by intermediate students to brush up on grammar and vocabulary. The content includes: How to Study - Tips and tricks on how to study and what to study to learn and retain the language quickly. Pronunciation - An easy and accurate guide for English speakers. Every sentence is written with English pronunciation, Japanese kana, and kanji. Grammar - All essential grammar tested in the JLPT N5 and most of the grammar tested in the JLPT N4. Vocabulary - Over 1000 of the most common Japanese words and phrases. Vocabulary nuances - Detailed explanations of how to use vocabulary correctly, that you can't find in a dictionary or other text books.

Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English


Patricia T. O'Conner - 1996
    The bestselling grammar book has been updated and revised to include the latest and greatest on the basics and subtleties of English, and features a new chapter on the language of the Internet.