Language

GRAB A BUMPER, FORGET YOUR FANTEEGS, AND ROAM AT A FOOT-PACE THROUGH THE TWISTY ALLEYWAYS OF THE VICTORIAN VERNACULAR!What larks! Dive into the world of literature's ultimate wordsmith, Charles Dickens,...

An exciting, seven-level course that enhances young learners' thinking skills, sharpening their memory while improving their language skills. Written by a highly experienced author team, Super Minds enhances your students'...

An exciting, seven-level course that enhances young learners' thinking skills, sharpening their memory while improving their language skills. This exciting seven-level course enhances your students' thinking skills, improving their memory...

'It is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word - U.S. PresidentShakespeare, Shake-speare, Shakspeare, Shaxberd, Shakespere, Shak-speare, Shaskpear, Shakspere, Shaksper, Schaksp., Shakespear,...

'A dream! I learnt something new and fascinating on every page' - Lucy Mangan'Invaluable - and hugely entertaining ... It is an absolute romp and a must-have for history and...

From minding your Ps and Qs to wondering why X should mark the spot, Alphabetical is a book for everyone who loves words and language. Whether it's how letters are...

The English language is a battlefield. Since the age of Shakespeare, arguments over correct usage have been acrimonious, and those involved have always really been contesting values - to do...

FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER THE ETYMOLOGICON.'Reading The Horologicon in one sitting is very tempting' Roland White, Sunday Times.Mark Forsyth presents a delightfully eccentric day...

"Be in no doubt: the beer was drunk but the man drank the beer.""We must avoid vulgarities like 'front up'. If someone is 'fronting up' a television show, then he...

Slang is the language of pop culture, low culture, street culture, underground movements and secret societies; depending on your point of view, it is a badge of honour, a sign...

More than 100 vocabulary-building quizzes make up the core of the book, with shorter sections on: * The fascinating origins of words * Quotes and misquotes* Slang, dialects and secret...

Humorous, fascinating and informative, O Muirithe deploys a wide range of sources - both written and oral - to uncover words and phrases from the polyglot stockpot that is the...

Painfree Better English Grammar aims to help you improve your written and spoken English through understanding the structure of the English language. This is a thorough, useful book with all...

'The first and perhaps only book on the relative merits of American and British English that is dominated by facts and analysis rather than nationalistic prejudice. For all its scholarship,...

'At last, a book that tells you exactly where to stick your apostrophe ... funny and useful, the perfect stocking filler.' David Marsh, GuardianApostrophes are a pain. The rules about...

Did you know that 'Almost' is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order? Or that 'Stewardesses' is the longest word you can type...

Misadventures in the English Language looks at some of the controversial aspects of English usage - grammar, vocabulary and punctuation - and tries to assess what matters and what doesn't....

Everything you need to know about the 25 essential rules of English grammar.English grammar is often said to be over-complicated and difficult to get to grips with but the truth...

Revealing the history behind words from Hoover to Sandwich and Wellington Boots to the Biro, this guide to eponyms is full of surprises.What's in a name? From Achilles to zeppelin,...

Follow the extraordinary journey of the most widely spoken language in the world, discover its many influences and learn about how it has evolved.From the Anglo-Saxons in the fifth century...

The definitive guide to the vibrant and inventive language of the East End, featuring history, trivia and anecdotes. Cockney rhyming slang originated as a secret code among the thieves of...

The English language is a versatile and agile thing, and as our world changes, so too does the way we use it. Sometimes we coin new words for new creations,...

Taking a quirky and insightful look at the world of numbers, As Easy As Pi will delight and entertain any number enthusiast.In this day and age it's hard to imagine...

'A thoroughly entertaining and absorbing little publication, set out in an accessible and easy-to-read style' - The BookbagWhy are geese in a gaggle? Are crows really murderous? And what makes...

What's in a name? From Achilles to zeppelin, the words we use in everyday language invoke a cast of historical characters, from figures of ancient legend to modern-day sports stars....

Swearing, it turns out, is an incredibly useful part of our linguistic repertoire. Not only has some form of swearing existed since the earliest humans began to communicate, but it...

Writing tends to make people anxious, and with good reason. The first sentence of a job application letter can consign it to the bin. A speech intended to rouse can...

The ultimate test of grammar rules - the grammar book serialised in the Times feature 'Grammar for Grown-ups'.

John Sutherland, one of Britain's most celebrated professors of English literature, is here to test, stretch, amuse and instruct you with his definitive quiz on all things grammatical. This is...

Angus Watson's Gaelic dictionaries are now established as some of the most popular and useful dictionaries available for learners of Scottish Gaelic. This volume, condensed from his essential Gaelic-English English-Gaelic...

Lonely Planet German Phrasebook & Dictionary is your passport to the most relevant German phrases and vocabulary for all your travel needs. Learn how to order the perfect beer, match...

Lonely Planet Mandarin Phrasebook & Dictionary is your handy passport to culturally enriching travels with the most relevant and useful Mandarin phrases and vocabulary for all your travel needs. Order...

When ordering a cafe au lait in Paris, calamari in Venice, or bratwurst in Munich, it helps to speak some of the native tongue. Rick Steves, bestselling author of travel...

Are we tired of hearing that fall is a season, sick of being offered fries and told about the latest movie? Yeah. Have we noticed the sly interpolation of Americanisms...

This is a book that explains the grammar that people really need to know, such as the fact that an apostrophe is the difference between a company that knows its...

REISSUED AS A SCEPTRE 30TH CLASSIC, with a new afterword by the author.English is the collective work of millions of people throughout the ages. It is democratic, ever-changing and ingenious...

Did you know that . . . a soldier's biggest social blunder is called jack brew - making yourself a cuppa without making one for anyone else? That twitchers have...

'No matter how eloquently a dog may bark, he cannot tell you that his parents were poor but honest.' Only words can do that. Words are magic. Words are fun.Join...

Do you want to have more meaningful conversations in Spanish? Do you want to feel comfortable in a variety of situations? Based on authentic texts, such as songs, poems, and...

Did you know that Jedburgh Justice is 'executing someone first, then giving them a trial'? Or that Kentish Fire is 'applauding sarcastically to silence your opponents'? From the author of...

Some people say sconn, while others say schown.He says bath, while she says bahth.You say potayto. I say potahtoAnd--wait a second, no one says potahto. No one's ever said potahto....

Looking for a course to rapidly improve your Spanish and fit in with your busy lifestyle? Already completed Michel Thomas Total Spanish? Take your Spanish to the next level with...

Learn over 50 essential words at the heart of Hindi and how to put them together to make yourself understood. This 2-hour basic introduction to Hindi with the Michel Thomas...

Looking for a convenient language course that fits your lifestyle and gets you speaking a new language in a matter of hours? The acclaimed audio-led Michel Thomas Method Total German...