Crystal David

Crystal David, 2005

When and why did 'thou' disappear from Standard English? Would a Victorian Cockney have said 'observation' or 'hobservation'? Was Jane Austen making a mistake when she wrote 'Jenny and James are walked to Charmonth this afternoon'? This superbly well-informed — and also wonderfully entertaining — history of the English language answers all these questions, showing how the many strands of English (Standard English, dialect and slang among them) developed to create the richly-varied language of today. Подробнее

English as a Global Language

Crystal David, 2012

David Crystal's classic English as a Global Language considers the history, present status and future of the English language, focusing on its role as the leading international language. English has been deemed the most 'successful' language ever, with 1500 million speakers internationally, presenting a difficult task to those who wish to investigate it in its entirety. However, Crystal explores the subject in a measured but engaging way, always backing up observations with facts and figures. Written in a detailed and fascinating manner, this is a book written by an expert both for specialists in the subject and for general readers interested in the English language. Подробнее

The Shakespeare Miscellany

Crystal David, 2005

In the best tradition of sound-bites and pithily entertaining witticism, the authors gather together essential facts and fascinating insights about William Shakespeare — probably the most famous writer of all time — and the world in which he lived and worked. Подробнее

The Story of English in 100 Words

Crystal David, 2012

Featuring Latinate and Celtic words, weasel words and nonce-words, ancient word (loaf) to advanced (twittersphere) and spanning the indispensable words that shape our tongue (and, what) to the more fanciful (fopdoodle), the author takes us along the winding byways of language via the rude, the obscure and the downright surprising. Подробнее

Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language

Crystal David, 2011

What do the following have in common? Let there be light — Whited sepulchres — A rod of iron — New wine into old bottles Lick the dust — How are the mighty fallen — A thorn in the flesh — Wheels within wheels They're all in the King James Bible. This astonishing book has 'contributed far more to English in the way of idiomatic or quasi-proverbial expressions than any other literary source', wrote David Crystal in 2004. In Begat he returns to the subject: he asks how a work published in 1611 could have had such an influence on the language and looks closely at what that influence has been. He comes to some surprising conclusions. No other version of the Bible however popular (such as the Good News Bible) or imposed upon the church (like the New English Bible) has had anything like the same impact. David Crystal shows how its words and phrases got independent life in the work of poets, playwrights, novelists, and politicians, and how more recently they have been taken up by journalists, advertisers, Hollywood, and hip-hop. He reveals the great debt the King James Bible owes to its English forebears, especially John Wycliffe's in the fourteenth century and William Tyndale's in the sixteenth. He also shows that the revisions and changes made by King James's translators were crucial to its universal success. A person who professes to be a critic in the delicacies of the English language ought to have the Bible at his finger's ends, Lord Macaulay advised Lady Holland in 1831. David Crystal shows how true this is. His book is a revelation. Подробнее

The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language

Crystal David, 2010

This new, thoroughly revised edition of the acclaimed Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language incorporates the major developments in language study which have taken place since the mid 1990s. Two main new areas have been added: the rise of electronic communication in all its current forms from email to texting, and the crisis affecting the world's languages, of which half are thought to be so seriously endangered that they will die out this century. All language statistics have been updated, and additional information provided about their linguistic affiliation. All topics involving technology have been revised to take account of recent developments, notably in phonetics, language disability, and computing. Maps have been revised to include new countries or country names. Special attention has been paid to fast-moving areas such as language teaching and learning. The text design has been completely updated with many new illustrations throughout. Подробнее

Think On My Words: Exploring Shakespeare's Language

Crystal David, 2012

For decades, people have been studying Shakespeare's life and times, and in recent years there has been a renewed surge of interest in aspects of his language. So how can we better understand Shakespeare? David Crystal provides a lively and original introduction to Shakespeare's language, making his plays easily accessible to modern-day audiences. Covering the five main dimensions of language structure — writing system, pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and conversational style — this book demonstrates how examining these linguistic 'nuts and bolts' can help us achieve a greater appreciation of Shakespeare's linguistic creativity. Подробнее

Wordsmiths and Warriors: The English-Language Tourist's Guide to Britain

Crystal David, 2013

Who formed and shaped the English language? David and Hilary Crystal take us on a journey through Britain to discover the people who gave our language its colour and character; Saxon invaders, medieval scholars, poets, reformers, dictionary writers. Part travelogue, part history, this beautifully illustrated book is full of unexpected delights. Подробнее

Language Death

Crystal David, 2002

The rapid endangerment and death of many minority languages across the world is a matter of widespread concern, not only among linguists and anthropologists but among all concerned with issues of cultural identity in an increasingly globalized culture. By some counts, only 600 of the 6,000 or so languages in the world are 'safe' from the threat of extinction. A leading commentator and popular writer on language issues, David Crystal asks the fundamental question, Why is language death so important?, reviews the reasons for the current crisis, and investigates what is being done to reduce its impact. The book contains not only intelligent argument, but moving descriptions of the decline and demise of particular languages, and practical advice for anyone interested in pursuing the subject further. Подробнее

The Penguin Dictionary of Language

Crystal David, 1999

What precisely are structuralism, semiotics and sociolinguistics? What distinguishes pidgins from creoles, gerunds from gerundines and the hard palate from the soft palate? How many people speak Macedonian, Malay or Makua? Now in its second edition, David Crystal's superbly authoritative dicionary provides answers to all these questions and to many hundreds of others concerned with language and linguistics. • Major new edition, with fully updated and data and statistics new entries on the critical issues of ecolinguistics, endangered languages and human linguistic rights • Succinct descriptions of many hundreds of languages • Clear definitions of grammatical and literary concepts • Full coverage of the terminology used in such disciplines as language teaching and learning, speech disorders, desk top publishing and stylistics • Over 60 diagrams and cartoons Подробнее

Penguin Glossary of Shakespeare's Words

Crystal David, 2004

Shakespeare’s Words is for people who love Shakespeare, or who love language, or both. David Crystal, one of the world’s leading experts on the English language, and his actor son, Ben, have created an immensely practical and enlightening guide to understanding Shakespeare’s language for readers, audiences, students, directors and actors. They have collected over 14,000 words that can cause difficulty or be ambiguous to the modern reader. Each word is glossed and illustrated by at least one quotation. There are succinct précis of the plays, lists of dramatis personae and a unique diagrammatic circle for each play demonstrating the interaction of characters and their allegiances. With special panels on intriguing areas such as archaisms, greetings, farewells and swear words, as well as dialects, Greek mythology, weapons and money, Shakespeare’s Words will greatly enrich every reader’s understanding and appreciation of the plays, and will encourage a new generation to treasure them. Подробнее

Penguin Guided Tour of English Language

Crystal David, 2002

This is the definitive survey of the English language — in all its forms. Crystal writes accessibly about the structure of the language, the uses of English throughout the world and finally he gives a brief history of English. The book has been fully revised and there is a fascinating new chapter on 'The effect of technology' on the English language. Подробнее

Crystal David

Книги

Художественная литература

Фантастика

Детектив

Детская литература

Юмор. Комиксы.

Кулинария

Эротика и секс (18+)

Семья