In this sparkling debut work of popular science, Emma Byrne examines the latest research to show how swearing can be good for you. She explores every angle of swearing-why we do it, how we do it, and what it tells us about ourselves. Packed with the results of unlikely and often hilarious scientific studies-from the "ice-bucket test" for coping with pain, to the connection between Tourette's and swearing, to a chimpanzee that curses at her handler in sign language-Swearing Is Good for You presents a lighthearted but convincing case for the foulmouthed.

'Wonderful. You finish the book more alive than ever to the enduring mystery and miracle of that thing that makes us most human' STEPHEN FRY 'Most popular books on language dumb down; Shariatmadari's smartens things up, and is all the more entertaining for it' THE SUNDAY TIMES, a Book of the Year 'A meaty, rewarding and necessary read' GUARDIAN 'Fascinating and thought-provoking . . . crammed with weird and wonderful facts . . . for anyone who delights in linguistics it's a richly rewarding read' MAIL ON SUNDAY - A word's origin doesn't tell you what it means today - There are languages that change when your mother-in-law is present - The language you speak could make you more prone to accidents - There's a special part of the brain that produces swear words Taking us on a mind-boggling journey through the science of language, linguist David Shariatmadari uncovers the truth about what we do with words, exploding nine widely-held myths about language while introducing us to some of the fundamental insights of modern linguistics.

A handy cheat sheet of key Japanese grammar in a at-a-glance, easy-to-carry format! The Japanese Grammar Language Study Card is the perfect resource for reviewing the main grammar that frequently appears in the N5 or N4 Level Japanese Language Proficiency Exam or the AP Exam. The compact, portable format is invaluable for anyone wanting to quickly review or expand their knowledge of everyday Japanese sentence and verb forms. This study card includes: Overview of basic sentence structure Key verb forms including plain and polite forms How to use sentence particles correctly How to make questions How to use pronouns The grammar points are clearly organized into color-coded sections. Each section has a concise explanation in English followed by examples given in Japanese script and romanized Japanese with English translation. Free online audio recordings by native speakers provide clear and accurate pronunciations for all the Japanese words and sentences, and Hiragana and Katakana alphabet charts are also included! Designed for convenience, this study card is: Laminated: to hold up over time and avoid being ruined by coffee spills 3 hole punched: giving the option to put it in a binder 8.5x11 inches: to easily fit into a folder or notebook alongside other study materials

Originally published in 1906, this textbook's principal aim is to give 'the facts of the language as they appear in the accepted models of Classical Latin'. Predominantly written for school students, this highly informative book sets out to educate the grammar of this classical language - the term 'classical' here meant as the 'artificial literacy dialect of which Cicero and Caesar are the recognised exponents in prose, Vergil, Ovid and Horace in poetry'. Chapters are detailed and broad in scope; chapter titles include, 'Phonology', 'Accidence' and 'Prosody'. Notably, 'Accidence and syntax are treated separately, yet, where it seemed convenient, e.g. with the impersonal verbs, the construction of certain words has been given at the same time as their forms and inflexions'. An index of verbs is included for reference. Intended as a reliable and clear introduction, this book will be of great value to anyone with an interest in Latin.

This volume explores both historical and current issues in English usage guides or style manuals. Guides of this sort have a long history: while Fowler's Modern English Usage (1926) is one of the best known, the first English usage guide was published in the UK in 1770, and the first in the US in 1847. Today, new titles come out nearly every year, while older works are revised and reissued. Remarkably, however, the kind of usage problems that have been addressed over the years are very much the same, and attitudes towards them are slow to change - but they do change. The chapters in this book look at how and why these guides are compiled, and by whom; what sort of advice they contain; how they differ from grammars and dictionaries; how attitudes to usage change; and why institutions such as the BBC need their own style guide. The volume will appeal not only to researchers and students in sociolinguistics, but also to general readers with an interest in questions of usage and prescriptivism, language professionals such as teachers and editors, and language policy makers.

A Reference Grammar of Chinese is a comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the linguistic structure of Chinese, covering all of the important linguistic features of the language and incorporating insights gained from research in Chinese linguistics over the past thirty years. With contributions from twenty-two leading Chinese linguists, this authoritative guide uses large-scale corpora to provide authentic examples based on actual language use. The accompanying online example databases ensure that a wide range of exemplars are readily available and also allow for new usages to be updated. This design offers a new paradigm for a reference grammar where generalizations can be cross-checked with additional examples and also provide resources for both linguistic studies and language learning. Featuring bilingual term lists, this reference grammar helps readers to access relevant literature in both English and Chinese and is an invaluable reference for learners, teachers and researchers in Chinese linguistics and language processing.

This book makes punctuation more fun and easier to learn than traditional approaches do. It teaches the natural way, by example: each lesson begins with quotes that exemplify good punctuation and sentence structure. Quotations are humorous and informative, drawn from the words of notable figures-Shakespeare, Mark Twain, Jerry Seinfeld, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Jennifer Lawrence, and many others. Short essays accompany each lesson, showing how each punctuation mark originated and how its use has altered over time. Correct punctuation is vital for clear, accurate, and natural writing. Anyone preparing a course assignment, applying for a job or for college admission, or doing any other formal writing needs to know the standard conventions of punctuation. Yet many people have never been taught how to punctuate. A necessary addition to any writer's bookshelf, this enjoyable book will teach readers to punctuate effectively and confidently-through over 500 memorable quotes and clear explanations of the rules.

This is a collection of research papers on competition in English affixation. It combines methodological chapters with descriptive chapters and incorporates both contributions by renowned international authors and also by younger researchers. The book presents diachronic and synchronic research both onomasiological and semasiological. The first three chapters review the literature and provide the theoretical framework for the experimental description of the remaining chapters.

Enhance your vocabulary in just 15 minutes a day with 1100 Words You Need to Know. Relied on by students for 50 years! Over the years, thousands of students preparing for the SAT, ACT, GRE, and other standardized tests have relied on 1100 Words You Need to Know as an ideal way to strengthen their word power. With this brand-new edition, test prep expert Richard Carriero provides a fully updated and invaluable resource for students-or for anyone who wants to boost their vocabulary. 1100 Words You Need to Know features a weekly program with six words to learn each day and one day for review. With just 15 minutes a day, you'll learn everything you need to improve your reading, writing, and speaking skills. This fully revised edition includes: Word lists with definitions in all new thematic grouping Helpful tips on word roots Updated words in context exercises, activities, and quizzes throughout An updated pronunciation guide Online Practice Continue your practice with 3 online quizzes plus scoring to test your progress

Cet ouvrage rend hommage a Louis Mercier, linguiste et lexicographe qui a consacre sa carriere a decrire le francais quebecois et a demystifier l'idee d'une langue unique pour l'ensemble des francophones. Les contributions publiees ici s'articulent autour de trois themes qui ont ete au coeur de ses travaux: la mise en valeur du patrimoine linguistique, la prise en compte de la socioculture dans la description de la langue et la reflexion sur les normes et modeles linguistiques servant de reference. Si la plupart des textes portent sur le francais quebecois, ils ne s'y limitent pas et permettent, en s'attardant a la langue telle que percue, analysee et decrite dans une societe specifique, d'enrichir les savoirs et les regards sur le francais dans l'ensemble de l'espace francophone.

Die Autorin untersucht wesentliche Fragestellungen, die durch den Ausschluss syntagmatischer Verbindungen aus der Wortbildung durch eine formal motivierte Verlagerung in die Syntax offengelassen werden. Funktional-inhaltliche AEquivalenzen zu morphologisch abweichenden Bildungen blieben bisher ausgeblendet. Systematische Untersuchungen insbesondere zum inneren Artikel beschranken sich hauptsachlich auf das Franzoesische, Arbeiten zum Italienischen und Portugiesischen stehen dagegen noch aus. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, sprachsystematische Kriterien herauszuarbeiten, die einen moeglichen Artikelanschluss motivieren oder blockieren. Die Auswertung der Datenbasis zeigt, dass artikel-relevant verschiedene, formale, syntaktische und semantische Kriterien sind, fur die eine isolierte Beschreibung nur selten moeglich ist.

Written in an easy-to-read style, this book takes you through the basics of English grammar. It shows you how to improve your writing and speaking by choosing the right words and the right sentence structure. Learn about sentence construction Avoid common mistakes, e.g. in the use of apostrophes Make sense of punctuation Discover how to write dialogue Improve your writing style Written in a simple style this book is for anyone of any age who wishes to improve the standard of his or her English. '

Generations of student writers have been subjected to usage handbooks that proclaim, "This is the correct form. Learn it"--books that lay out a grammar, but don't inspire students to use it. By contrast, this antihandbook handbook, presenting some three hundred sentences drawn from the printed works of a single, typical day in the life of the language--December 29, 2008--tries to persuade readers that good grammar and usage matter. Using real-world sentences rather than invented ones, One Day in the Life of the English Language gives students the motivation to apply grammatical principles correctly and efficiently. Frank Cioffi argues that proper form undergirds effective communication and ultimately even makes society work more smoothly, while nonstandard English often marginalizes or stigmatizes a writer. He emphasizes the evolving nature of English usage and debunks some cherished but flawed grammar precepts. Is it acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition? It is. Can you start a sentence with a conjunction? You can. OK to split an infinitive? No problem. A grammar and usage handbook like no other, One Day in the Life of the English Language features accessible chapters divided into "Fundamentals," "Fine Tuning," and "Deep Focus," allowing readers to select a level most suited to their needs. It also includes a glossary, a teachers' guide, and a section refuting some myths about digital-age English.

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

'In every sense, a good word guide' Times Educational Supplement 'This intelligent guide is an essential addition to the bookshelves of all readers and writers' Good Book Guide Our language is changing faster than ever before. Modern communications are breaking down distinctions between formal and informal English, raising ever more questions as to how to speak and write correctly. This fully updated edition of the bestselling Good Word Guide offers information and advice on spelling, grammar, punctuation, pronunciation, confusables and the latest buzzwords and provides clear, straightforward answers to everyday language problems. This edition contains a new feature: 'Your Turn' sections - new interactive quizzes for the reader to test their own knowledge of grammar, plain English, punctuation, spelling and usage - a perfect resource for language courses. Endorsed by the Plain Language Commission.

Early in the history of English, the words "grammar" and "glamour" meant the same thing: the power to charm. Roy Peter Clark, author of Writing Tools, aims to put the glamour back in grammar with this fun, engaging alternative to stuffy instructionals.

In this practical guide, readers will learn everything from the different parts of speech to why effective writers prefer concrete nouns and active verbs.

The Glamour of Grammar gives readers all the tools they need to"live inside the language" -- to take advantage of grammar to perfect their use of English, to instill meaning, and to charm through their writing. With this indispensable book, readers will come to see just how glamorous grammar can be.

Angesichts der neuen Herausforderungen, denen die Geisteswissenschaften und insbesondere die Germanistik ausgesetzt sind, versteht sich dieser Kongressband als ein UEberblick uber die aktuellen und kunftigen Forschungsperspektiven in den Bereichen der germanistischen Literatur-, Kultur- und Sprachwissenschaft, jedoch unter starker Berucksichtigung der Beziehung zur Vergangenheit. Die Aufsatze gehen auf die 13. Germanistenwoche zuruck, die im Januar 2011 in Madrid stattfand. In dieser Hinsicht widmet sich ein grosser Teil der Beitrage dem Thema des NS-Exils und der Exilforschung. Sie bilden eine erste Sektion, wahrend die zweite Sektion sprachwissenschaftliche Arbeiten beinhaltet und die dritte literatur- und kulturwissenschaftliche Aufsatze anbietet. A la luz de los nuevos desafios que encaran las Humanidades, y muy especialmente la Germanistica, este volumen brinda una panoramica de las perspectivas de investigacion actuales y futuras en los estudios literarios, culturales y linguisticos, dando ademas cumplida cuenta de hitos pasados. El libro recoge los resultados de la XIII Semana de Estudios Germanicos celebrada en Madrid en enero de 2011. Una serie de contribuciones se centran en el tema del exilio y su investigacion. Estos articulos conforman una primera seccion, en tanto que la segunda comprende trabajos de indole linguistica y la tercera, ensayos sobre estudios literarios o culturales.

Recent developments in generative grammar have been very stimulating. The current theory defines a small set of principles that apply to all human languages. Efforts have been made to demonstrate the adequacy of this theory for a wide range of languages. We thus see an interesting interface of theory and empirical data: the study of natural languages contributes to defining the properties of Universal Grammar and the predictions of the theory help in uncovering generalizations regarding natural languages. This book aims to add to this exciting development by showing how the analysis of Mandarin Chinese constituent structures helps to define Case Theory and how interesting generalizations concerning Chinese grammar are uncovered through verification of the theoretical predictions. Starting from the inadequacy of work by Koopman, Li, and Travis on the effect of Case directionality on word order, the book shows that a detailed study of Chinese constituent structures allows us to reduce the phrase structure component to a minimal statement concerning the position of the head in a given phrase. It argues that in a given language the constituent structures can be adequately captured by the interaction of Case Theory, Theta Theory, Government Theory, and X Theory. Long standing controversies concerning Chinese basic word order are resolved by showing that underlying word order generalizations can differ from surface word order generalizations."