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Spellbound: The Surprising Origins and Astonishing Secrets of English Spelling
by Essinger, James
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Good
- ISBN 10
- 0385340842
- ISBN 13
- 9780385340847
- Seller
-
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, United Kingdom
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Paperback. Good.
Synopsis
Welcome to the illogical, idiosyncratic, outrageous linguistic phenomenon known as the English language. The story of how this ragtag collection of words evolved is a winding tale replete with intriguing accidents and bizarre twists of fate. In this eye-opening, fabulously entertaining book, James Essinger unlocks the mysteries that have confounded linguists and scholars for millennia.From the sophisticated writing systems of the ancient Sumerians through the tongue twisters of Middle English, the popular National Spelling Bee, and the mobile phone text-messaging of today, Spellbound chronicles the fascinating history of English spelling, including insights about the vast number of words English has borrowed from other languages ("orange," "vanilla," and "ketchup," to name a few), and how their meanings differ from country to country. Featuring a lively cast of characters ranging from the fictional to the historically noteworthy (Chaucer, Samuel Johnson, Noah Webster, Shakespeare, Bill Gates), this affectionate tribute to English spelling shows why our whimsical, capricious common language continues to hold us spellbound.From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Details
- Bookseller
- World of Books Ltd
(GB)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- GOR012412701
- Title
- Spellbound: The Surprising Origins and Astonishing Secrets of English Spelling
- Author
- Essinger, James
- Format/Binding
- Paperback
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- ISBN 10
- 0385340842
- ISBN 13
- 9780385340847
- Publisher
- Delta
- This edition first published
- May 1, 2007
Terms of Sale
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About the Seller
World of Books Ltd
Biblio member since 2007
GORING BY SEA, West Sussex
About World of Books Ltd
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- Wob: Through Wob, we sell. We provide affordable, preloved books and media to customers all over the world. A book leaves our collection of over seven million titles and begins a new chapter every two seconds, enabling more goods to be reused.
- Ziffit: Through Ziffit, we buy. We give people around the world the opportunity to contribute to the circular economy, earn money and protect the planet, by trading their unwanted books and media.
- Shopiago: Through Shopiago, we help others. By sharing the technology that has grown World of Books Group into the business it is today, we're helping charities increase revenue and reduce waste through re-commerce.
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