Beyond Words: How Language Reveals the Way We Live Now |
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John Humphrys
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Pages: 256 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0340923768
Pub: Hodder Paperbacks
Pub date: 2007-06-07
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 217431
Reader Reviews:
A Plea for the English Language (0/0 people found this helpful)
This short book is the second by John Humphrys on the current use of English and, like the first, is a delight to read. He examines the insidious intrusion of management-speak into everyday life, with some marvellous examples of pure gobbledegook from a range of sources. He refutes the notion that all organizations, whether they are hospitals, schools, or whatever, should aim to produce `measurable outcomes' for their `customers', and he deplores the overuse of words such as `lifestyle', `affordable' and `deliverables' that have been perverted to project meaningless concepts. Above all, he debunks the popular myth that it doesn't matter how you write as long as people understand it, preferring instead to believe that forcing ourselves to write properly forces us to think properly. This book should be compulsory reading in all schools; but it more likely to be burned as a heresy by local education authorities.
Erudite and hilarious. (53/55 people found this helpful)
Very funny but also genuinely illuminating look at the way the lazy and sometimes manipulative (mis)use of language has had an impact on our political, economic and cultural lives. His examples are wonderful and his case for grammatical rigour is compelling while never being snobby.
A great Christmas present for all who love the English language. An even better present for the rest.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Society, Politics & Philosophy -> Social Sciences -> Linguistics -> Reference
Books -> Subjects -> Society, Politics & Philosophy -> Social Sciences -> Linguistics -> Sociolinguistics
Books -> Subjects -> Society, Politics & Philosophy -> Social Sciences -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Sports, Hobbies & Games -> Hobbies & Games -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Sports, Hobbies & Games -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size