Description
By: Peter Farb
Why do certain words make us blush or wince? Why do men and women really speak different languages? Why do nursery rhymes in vastly different societies possess similar rhyme and rhythm patterns? What do slang, riddles and puns secretly have in common?
This erudite yet irresistibly readable book examines the game of language: its players, strategies, and hidden rules. Drawing on the most fascinating linguistic studies—and touching on everything from the Marx Brothers to linguistic sexism, from the phenomenon of glossolalia to Apache names for automobile parts—Word Play shows what really happens when people talk, no matter what language they happen to be using.
Why do certain words make us blush or wince? Why do men and women really speak different languages? Why do nursery rhymes in vastly different societies possess similar rhyme and rhythm patterns? What do slang, riddles and puns secretly have in common?
This erudite yet irresistibly readable book examines the game of language: its players, strategies, and hidden rules. Drawing on the most fascinating linguistic studies—and touching on everything from the Marx Brothers to linguistic sexism, from the phenomenon of glossolalia to Apache names for automobile parts—Word Play shows what really happens when people talk, no matter what language they happen to be using.
You may also like
熱銷中 Top Trending
![Maisy's (正版) Holiday Picture Book Bag Collection (Lucy Cousins) - 買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/products/Maisy_sHolidayPictureBookBagCollection_LucyCousins_{width}x.jpg?v=1664268685)
![Maisy Goes on Holiday (Paperback) (Lucy Cousins) Walker UK](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/products/MaisyGoesonHoliday1_a13ed30d-bac5-4f72-ad36-c06a517e2a9a_{width}x.jpg?v=1664268685)
Maisy's (正版) Holiday Picture Book Bag Collection (Lucy Cousins)
Sale priceHK$175.00
Regular priceHK$504.00
In stock![Ultimate Football Heroes - Ronaldo (Matt & Tom Oldfield)-Nonfiction: 人物傳記 Biography-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/UltimateFootballHeroes-Ronaldo_Matt_TomOldfield_{width}x.webp?v=1713021985)
![Ultimate Football Heroes - Ronaldo (Matt & Tom Oldfield)-Nonfiction: 人物傳記 Biography-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/UltimateFootballHeroes-Ronaldo_Matt_TomOldfield_2_{width}x.webp?v=1713021989)
Ultimate Football Heroes - Ronaldo (Matt & Tom Oldfield)
Sale priceHK$57.00
Regular priceHK$91.00
In stock![Pip and Posy (正版) Collection (Books with Audio QR Code* )(Axel Scheffler)-Fiction: 兒童繪本 Picture Books-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/PipandPosy_Collection_BookswithAudioQRCode_AxelScheffler_10-Book_{width}x.webp?v=1714856885)
![Pip and Posy (正版) Collection (Books with Audio QR Code* )(Axel Scheffler)-Fiction: 兒童繪本 Picture Books-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/products/PipandPosy_Collection_BookswithAudioQRCode_AxelScheffler_{width}x.jpg?v=1699212651)
Pip and Posy (正版) Collection (Books with Audio QR Code)(Axel Scheffler)
Sale priceFrom HK$249.00
Regular priceHK$671.00
In stock![Dork Diaries #02 Party Time (Rachel Renee Russell)-Fiction: 幽默搞笑 Humorous-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/DorkDiaries_02PartyTime_1_{width}x.jpg?v=1714880146)
![Dork Diaries #02 Party Time (Rachel Renee Russell)-Fiction: 幽默搞笑 Humorous-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/DorkDiaries_02PartyTime_2_{width}x.jpg?v=1699232256)
Dork Diaries #02 Party Time (Rachel Renee Russell)
Sale priceHK$67.00
Regular priceHK$104.00
In stock![Percy Jackson and the Olympians #6 The Chalice of the Gods (Rick Riordan)-Fiction: 神話傳說 Myth and Legend-買書書 BuyBookBook](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/PercyJacksonandtheOlympians_6TheChaliceoftheGods_RickRiordan_{width}x.jpg?v=1714881796)
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods (International paperback edition)
Sale priceHK$89.00
Regular priceHK$140.00
In stock![Legends of Lotus Island #01 The Guardian Test (Christina Soontornvat)](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/9781339041032_{width}x.webp?v=1716376443)
Legends of Lotus Island #01 The Guardian Test (Christina Soontornvat)
Sale priceHK$67.00
Regular priceHK$112.00
In stock![Brown: My Alter Ego Is A Superhero Book 1 (Håkon Øvreås)](http://buybookbook.com/cdn/shop/files/9781592702510_{width}x.jpg?v=1716306931)
Brown: My Alter Ego Is A Superhero Book 1 (Håkon Øvreås)
Sale priceFrom HK$64.00
Regular priceHK$80.00
In stock