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Word by Word

The Secret Life of Dictionaries

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Word by Word

Auteur(s): Kory Stamper
Narrateur(s): Kory Stamper
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À propos de cet audio

 Do you have strong feelings about the word “irregardless”? Have you ever tried to define the word “is”? Brimming with intelligence and personality, this vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made is a must-read for word mavens.

Many of us take dictionaries for granted, and few may realize that the process of writing dictionaries is, in fact, as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what to define and how to do it, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why small words are the most difficult to define, how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. And along the way, she reveals little-known surprises—for example, the fact that “OMG” was first used in a letter to Winston Churchill in 1917.

Word by Word brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a startlingly rich world inhabited by quirky and erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. Certain to be a delight for all lovers of words, Stamper’s debut will make you laugh as much as it makes you appreciate the wonderful complexities and eccentricities of the English language. Sciences sociales

Ce que les critiques en disent

"As a writer, Kory Stamper can do anything with words: define them, split them, lump them, agglute them, and make them work for her every bit as ferociously and precisely as she works for them in her day job as a far from mild-mannered lexicographer at Merriam-Webster. You will never take a dictionary entry for granted again." —Mary Norris, bestselling author of Between You & Me

"A love letter to letters themselves... A cheerful and thoughtful rebuke of the cult of the grammar scolds. Stamper [is] a wry and charming correspondent. Word by Word is, like a dictionary itself, a composite affair: It’s a memoir that is also an explanation of the work that writing a dictionary entails." —Megan Garber, The Atlantic

"An unlikely page-turner…Stamper displays a contagious enthusiasm for words...Illuminating." —The New Yorker

"Delightful… Informed, irreverent and witty…A gloriously (occasionally even uproariously) well written book, and unsurprisingly erudite. Do read [Word by Word]." —Stevie Godson, New York Journal of Books
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This book is one of the best I’ve ever read. It’s tremendously informative and yet personal. I expected a dry, scientific overview of the English language and some of the nuances that go into defining words, and I ended up delighted by the humour and personality that shone through.

The narration is brilliant. I listened to this book while walking my dog and found myself extending our journeys so I wouldn’t have to stop. I will definitely re-read it and it’s in the top 3 books I’ve ever read.

As a fan of non-fiction, this book exceeded all expectations and the narration was the cherry on top.

Excellent Book All Around

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