It is really just a collection of things you should know about the words that you use. Some of the entries are well-known mistakes, such as the title, "Between You and I. Anyway, my only real problems I was about to write "issues," but then I remembered that Mr. Cochrane says this is an ignorant use of the word "issue" with this book were that A. Cochrane is way, way too smart for me, and I have to look up a word in the dictionary tragedy , and B. I would have let him tell me about words for about a hundred more pages before I got bored.
Aug 13, Emily rated it really liked it. Cochrane has collected examples of improper English, including grammatical errors, pronunciation, and words easily confused with each other, and attempts to educate the reader as to the correct usage. Cochrane is British, and as such, all of his examples originated in that country's publications.
I assume that they remain applicable to American English, but I am not sure. The book is not pleasant to read straight through, as I soon found out, but taken in short segments, such as on break at work Cochrane has collected examples of improper English, including grammatical errors, pronunciation, and words easily confused with each other, and attempts to educate the reader as to the correct usage.
The book is not pleasant to read straight through, as I soon found out, but taken in short segments, such as on break at work, it is more palatable. Some of these common errors were well known to me, but I was horrified to learn how many I'd been going about using improperly for some time.
However, I'm not sure this was entirely positive, as I am now more of a grammar nazi than I already was! Aug 16, Mary rated it really liked it. Tony says, "The reason being is that It drives me to drink. James Cochrane is on my side and that makes me feel superior. If you like to feel superior too and if you believe that people who say "more unique" should be denied the right to vote, you will like this book.
But it was worth it to learn the difference, once and for all, between discrete and discreet. Kein Bastian Sick auf Englisch, viel besser: When seen in the form "in the throws of" it should be treated with ridicule and contempt. Oct 09, Saanvi rated it liked it. Aug 24, Schmacko rated it liked it. James Cochrane scares the hell out of me. In this small book, the year-old fuddy-duddy Cochrane offers about a hundred language errors, all of which I commit every day, I'm sure.
It's a fun book, and often Cochrane finds very humorous ways of exemplifying errors. As a noun, the word denotes someone living outside his or her own country and is so spelled and not as expatriot, which, if it existed, would presumably mean "a former patriot. Fancypants Author says he supports language change. However, any reader will find Cochran vehemently abhors any change that comes from the worlds of political correctness, common vernacular, news media, pop culture, or business.
Still, I'm passing this one on to David. After David is done recieving criticism for his own horrible English, I'll probably take it back and reexamine the excoriation of the grammatical sins I daily commit. Aug 18, Kirsten rated it really liked it. My emotions while reading this book bounced between smug and ashamed. Do people really not know the difference between infer and imply? James Cochrane knew and I didn't. The gap between educated and uneducated, Cochrane maintains, is filled with those who think the correct usage does not sound fancy e My emotions while reading this book bounced between smug and ashamed.
The gap between educated and uneducated, Cochrane maintains, is filled with those who think the correct usage does not sound fancy enough to be right, so they jazz it up with something ostensibly more regal sounding, but ultimately incorrect. Remind me not to reread any writing from my freshman year of college in the near future. This little book is very funny And always the author keeps a light hand, as if to say, "Yes, that's a really stupid mistake, but aren't you glad you read this book so you won't make it anymore?
Jan 15, Melodee rated it really liked it Shelves: This book is a quick read. It highlights various words and phrases in English that are either misused, misspelled or mistaken for other words. It is scholarly without being overly pedantic. Several of my personal linguistic pet peeves were included, so I found myself saying, "Yes, exactly! James Cochrane was born in Edinburgh in and educated there and at Cambridge University. He joined Penguin Books as an editor in and has worked in publishing ever since. Here is a new, enlarged edition of the book described by The Independent as a "cool, disdainfully precise A-Z of linguistic misuse", and by its author as "a two-hour course in language Between You and I: A Little Book of Bad English.
A waspish review of the massacre of the Queen's English, introduced by Britain's best-loved radio journalist John Humphrys. I learnt a few language facts from this and the history of languages is always appealing to read; Crystal's 'Spell It Out' is superb so I assumed this book would be of the same ilk.
I was hoping for an engaging, entertaining and informative collection of facts for my sixth formers. Unfortunately, the tone of this tome is cringe-inducingly embarrassing. Just write like you normally would Mr Crystal! The skill of a YA writer is to not be patronising and definitely to not use phrases such as 'I rath I learnt a few language facts from this and the history of languages is always appealing to read; Crystal's 'Spell It Out' is superb so I assumed this book would be of the same ilk.
The skill of a YA writer is to not be patronising and definitely to not use phrases such as 'I rather like that! The embarrassing overuse of a chortle-y exclamation mark, ho ho I'm down with you wicked kids! Even as a teenager I would have been exasperated and pretty annoyed at the incessant unsuccessful attempts to connect with a young reader. It does interfere with the information being relayed and just isn't necessary. What would have been hugely interesting would have been a reflection on his own white Welsh adult acting as teenager male way of writing.
And perhaps how obstructive that may be to so many readers, multicultural teenagers in particular. Chapter 22 is a corker of awfulness: I didn't realise we were living in a Famous Five novel.
It feels so out of touch, as though there hasn't been any discussion with a range of teenagers - which, given they are the target audience, is baffling. As for these suspect beauties, I'm a bit at a loss for words: She go by bus] But it's unusual to find white people using them" Go to London or any other major city, or indeed leafy Essex.
Watch TV and films, listen to music. Even in this was the case, Mr C. But the kind of English they speak is different, because one is black and the other is white. Not even any acknowledgement of the unnecessary and insulting sweeping statement.
A little Book of English - Kindle edition by Philip Matyszak. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like. In the spirit of the bestselling Eats, Shoots & Leaves, this is an informative and highly amusing little book about bad English, full of examples of the incorrect.
I read this so I could pass it on to my A level students as a background of the history of the English language. The historical parts i. Chapters 9 - 12, 14 - 17, 19 - 21 are simple and will be valuable to them.
However, I will place a caveat on any other chapters by warning them of the overwhelming flinch factor, of an adult trying to be conversational with them and ending up sounding like their grandpops. Some gems here and there, but overall imperfectly pitched. Feb 16, Erica rated it really liked it Shelves: Have you ever wondered when exactly a baby starts taking on the sounds of its mother tongue?
Or where writing came from?
Cochrane has collected examples of improper English, including grammatical errors, pronunciation, and words easily confused with each other, and attempts to educate the reader as to the correct usage I guess he's trying to go for a conversational tone because he wants to liven up the subject and not make it so dry. I know a lot more than I used to. Chapters are short and filled with carefully chosen examples that are relevant and up-to-date. With a language disappearing every two weeks and neologisms springing up almost daily, an understanding of the origins and currency of language has never seemed more relevant. Seriously though, 'Between You and I' begins well with an incisive introduction from John Humphries, who endears himself to me with his views about cliches and modern jargon, which he describes as 'all the mumbo-jumbo surrounding "delivering objectives" by "thinking outside the box" or "stretching the envelope" by "building on best practice".
Or what the heck is up with Basque? David Crystal answers all those questions and more in this primer on language. Everything from its origins to texting, from the mechanics of how we speak to the reasons why we do. Crystal breaks it all down into bite-sized chunks covered with a smooth caramel coating of British wit to make it g Book talk: Crystal breaks it all down into bite-sized chunks covered with a smooth caramel coating of British wit to make it go down easier. The scope of this book really is incredible and tantalizing and makes me want to learn more about language.
I love Crystal's narrative tone and all the amusing anecdotes he works in. Some of the most amusing parts to me, however were parts that were probably never intended as such. Crystal is English and writing for an English audience, as such he often uses examples that would seem every day to fellow Englishmen but that are delightful to a yank like me. For example apparently in British Parliament you can't just call a fellow politician by their name, you have to call them either your Honourable differences between American and British spellings are covered in chapter 10 Friend or an Honourable Gentleman depending on whether they're of your political party or not.
The British political and legal system never ceases to amuse me. Rocks in my socks: This book seemed like a bit of tease to me. Its scope is large but its depth is not. It introduces a lot of topics and gives an overview of them, but I often felt disappointed that it didn't delve deeper.
To be fair, that wasn't the purpose of this book and if it had done so it would have had to be a series of books instead of just one, but it annoyed me nevertheless. Every book its reader: I'd give this to anyone looking for an introduction to the study of language. This book is a great starting point because it covers so many topics so you can see which areas you are most interested in to study farther. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who has already done much studying in this field because it is a fairly basic introduction. The text is simple and entertaining enough to be enjoyed by teens if they had an interest in the subject.
Read more of my reviews at http: Dec 29, Sannie rated it it was ok Recommends it for: I read this because I was given it for Christmas since the friend who gave it to me knows I have an interest in linguistics and languages. The content is good for someone who knows little about the topic and stays very general.
A Little Book of Language serves as an introduction to the field of linguistics and as a result was not really on the level of content I was hoping for. I realize that this book is not necessarily aimed at someone like me; rather, the book is ideal for high sch I read this because I was given it for Christmas since the friend who gave it to me knows I have an interest in linguistics and languages.
I realize that this book is not necessarily aimed at someone like me; rather, the book is ideal for high school students or college students that have never encountered linguistics before or are thinking about studying or making a career of it. In that regard, I would give the book 3 stars. My problem with the book is David Crystal's writing. I guess he's trying to go for a conversational tone because he wants to liven up the subject and not make it so dry. I get it, I really do especially because I've been teaching English for some time now. After awhile, though, it became kind of condescending and preachy.
Sometimes it came off as if he were speaking to a small child. On the back of the book, a quote from The Washington Post states that "[it] may be for children of all ages, as the saying goes , yet it's by no means childish or juvenile. The chapter on political correctness was really painful to get through and by the time I reached the 35th chapter, I couldn't wait to be finished reading just to be done, not because it was engaging. I would certainly recommend this book for adults who know their kids might have an interest in linguistics but don't really know much about it.
Had my mother bought me a book like this for me in high school, it would've been perfect and I would've appreciated it. Reading it as an adult who has taken some university level courses on linguistics, I felt a bit too lectured.
Jan 30, Hazel rated it liked it. An interesting book that is easy to read and puts simply and explains what anyone who has ever thought about the nature of language almost everyone may have wondered. Therefore, I think, most people could read and take something from this book. I bought the book at the Saatchi Gallery shop and was expecting something a little more in-depth, and less beginner- An interesting book that is easy to read and puts simply and explains what anyone who has ever thought about the nature of language almost everyone may have wondered.
I bought the book at the Saatchi Gallery shop and was expecting something a little more in-depth, and less beginner-linguist. The Little Book of Language could actually be littler. It covers several topics more than once, and repeats points far too frequently. I really like the style in which this is written as it prompts much thought around the diversity of the origins of our own language as well as having a distinct pro-diversity message running throughout in the backdrop also.
The book is probably written for teenagers but this makes the read both simplistic to allow for thought and also engaging to keep interest. Chapters are short and filled with carefully chosen examples that are relevant and up-to-date. I like very much that the author has incl I really like the style in which this is written as it prompts much thought around the diversity of the origins of our own language as well as having a distinct pro-diversity message running throughout in the backdrop also.
I like very much that the author has included the ever-changing aspect with quite a strong focus on technology to show the developments language is currently taking and that the opposition that the language of the youth face today is no different from several hundred years ago - interesting how the opposed words are many that are commonplace today.
This book really challenges the reader to consider their words carefully before requesting that someone in their country should speak in English this happens a lot in classrooms and I have been guilty of requesting only English in one of my own - this needs much thought now on my part to allow languages to be seen in a positive and welcomed light - the thought of a language disappearing every 2 weeks is rather shocking and, after an enlightening read, such a shame to the world.
Never thought that I would find the story of a language this interesting!! Jun 20, Dave Williams rated it liked it. A word of warning: At least, not in my Yale UP first hardback edition — perhaps later editions will fix this. Having read a number of professor Crystal's earlier books, I snapped up this new one. A few pages in, I started to think, has the publisher asked him to dumb down his style? The sentences were shorter than usual, the chapters likewise, and there A word of warning: The sentences were shorter than usual, the chapters likewise, and there was a certain hand-holding with regards pronunciation, along with a reticence about using technical terms.
A little over halfway through, I began to have suspicions when he talked about "the next time you are in a school library" and gave examples about essays. About two-thirds of the way through, it becomes explicit that he's writing for an audience of kids. That aside, the coverage is a fairly quick run-down of all the usual subjects you'd expect in a David Crystal general layperson's linguistics book: Jan 21, Scott rated it it was amazing. I was expecting work more along the lines of "A Joy of Lex", a discussion of the commonalities, differences and quirks of languages.
Rather this is a broad overview of the topic as the development and use of language on an individual, societal and as a species. Each chapter could be the introduction or overview of a volume s focused on that specific topic. The author manages to balance an style that is a approachable by the layman yet provides enough detail and fact to still be informative and I was expecting work more along the lines of "A Joy of Lex", a discussion of the commonalities, differences and quirks of languages.
The author manages to balance an style that is a approachable by the layman yet provides enough detail and fact to still be informative and perhaps spark further reading. The book starts out on the most personal, simplest form of communication, a newborn infant introduced to a world of sight and sound.
Building chapter by chapter starting with an individual's development of language and quickly moving to when language develops by a species, language families, the advent of writing vs.