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Why Is This a Question? - Everything About the Origins and Oddities of Language You Never Thought to Ask (Paperback, Not for Online)
Loot Price: R251
Discovery Miles 2 510
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Why Is This a Question? - Everything About the Origins and Oddities of Language You Never Thought to Ask (Paperback, Not for Online)
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Loot Price R251
Discovery Miles 2 510
Expected to ship within 12 - 17 working days
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Donate to Against Period Poverty
Total price: R271
Discovery Miles: 2 710
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'As entertaining as it is engrossing' John Banville 'Enlightening,
delightful' Arthur der Weduwen, author of The Library Why
don’t eleven and twelve end in –teen?
The rest of our counting system sits in neatly arithmetical sets of
ten, so why do these two rulebreakers seem so at odds with the
numbers that follow them? Admittedly, that’s probably a question
that might never have occurred to you. But if you’re even
remotely interested in the origins and oddities of language, it’s
likely also a question you’re now intrigued to know the answer
to. Nor is it the only question: take a moment to think about
how our language operates and even more spring mind. Why do these
letters look the way they do? Why are some uppercase and others
lowercase? Why are these words in this order? How are you
understanding what these seemingly arbitrary shapes and symbols
mean, while doubtless hearing them read to you in a voice inside
your head? And what is this question mark really doing at this end
of this sentence? Books explaining the origins of our most
intriguing words and phrases have long proved popular, but they
often overlook the true nuts and bolts of language: the origins of
our alphabet and writing system; grammatical rules and conventions;
the sound structure of language; and even how our brains and bodies
interpret and communicate language itself. Why Is This a
Question? is a fascinating and enlightening exploration of
linguistic questions you’ve likely never thought to ask. ‘Every
page will make you stop, think and wonder.’ James Hawes, author
of The Shortest History of England ‘Enthralling, with a riveting
“who knew?” moment on nearly every page.’ Caroline Taggart,
author of Humble Pie and Cold Turkey
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