Language Arts & Disciplines : Vocabulary

This is a comprehensive introduction to the grammar and vocabulary of contemporary English covering core areas and providing classic readings by key names in the discipline. more...

Price: $25.95

Intelligence is sexy. Good morning, dear students, and welcome to my favorite class: philology, or the love of words. For me, nothing is more seductive than a good word origin story. I can't get enough. I mean, have you ever wondered what the word "cocktail" has to do with drinks? Or whether "hussy" was always an insult? Or why Benedict got his very own egg recipe? These are the types of questions that keep me awake all night long. Whether you've been a straight-A follower of my YouTube channel or this is your first adventure in philology, I think that soon you'll be just as hot for words as I am! Are you ready for class to begin? more...

Price: $11.99

In today's media-driven society it is crucial that students understand its vocabulary. This worktext emphasizes self-reliance and consumer awareness. Interesting terms learned in context include: trademark, discount, multimedia, logo, circulation, fad, competition, objectivity and more. Words are exposes and explored in a variety of activities to keep interest high including matching terms, word pairs, scrambled words, and more. more...

Price: $13.95

A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say “I am reading a catalog” instead of “I read a catalog”? Why do we say “do” at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century ad, John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor. Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English? and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for (and no, it’s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition). more...

Price: $22.50

For the past twenty-five years Americans have relied on Pulitzer Prize-winning wordsmith William Safire for their weekly dose of linguistic illumination in The New York Times Magazine's column "On Language" -- one of the most popular features of the magazine and a Sunday-morning staple for innumerable fans. The Right Word in the Right Place at the Right Time is a fascinating, learned and piquant look at the oddities and foibles that find their way into the English language. Exposing linguistic hooey and rigamarole and filled with Safire's trademark wisdom, this book has a place on the desk or bedside table of all who share his profound love of the English language -- as well as his penchant for asking "What does that mean?" Or, "Wassat?". This new collection is sure to delight readers, writers and word lovers everywhere and spark the interest of anyone who has ever wondered, "Where did the phrase 'brazen hussy' come from?". more...

Price: $27.00