Word by Word

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Word by Word

Word By Word - Secret Life of Dictionaries, The - Hardcover - USA - 1st Edition.jpg

Hardcover - USA - 1st edition.

Author Kory Stamper
Published 2017-03-14
Type Non-fiction
Genre Educational
Themes English, Etymology, Language, Lexicography
Age Group Adult

Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries is a book about lexicography by Kory Stamper first published on 2017-03-14.

In the book, Stamper describes in detail the process lexicographers use to create dictionaries including how to determine if a word is worthy of an entry word, how to classify them, and how to write and change definitions over time. The book also includes a mini biography of Stamper's life and work at Merriam-Webster and some of the more interesting and controversial words she's had to work on.

Personal

Own?No.
Read?Audiobook read by Kory Stamper.
Finished2020-05-19.

Being a fan of words and dictionaries, I started reading this book. After only a short way into it I was already loving it, so I quickly read through the rest of it and found it very enjoyable and educational.

Review

Overall:

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Good

  • The book is enjoyable to read. Stamper has a comfortable writing style and uses a lot of colloquialisms and doesn't shy from colorful curse words when the situation calls for it.
  • After reading this book, I came away with a much better understanding and appreciation of the English language, it's written form, and the science of trying to understand it.
  • Stamper uses a wide array of vocabulary throughout the book. Although, as a lexicographer, it would be criminal if she did not.
  • Stamper does a good job explaining the basics of the English language including grammar, word usage, and the various categories we use to describe them. She also neatly explains the job of a lexicographer and how it can be unexpectedly difficult.
  • Stamper makes a great case for descriptive rather than prescriptive English, explains why respelling words to match their pronunciation is a doomed prospect, and discusses why English is nourished by dialects, especially those viewed as inferior, and points out how the hatred of dialects is often a dog whistle.
  • The audio book is read by the author, who sounds not unlike Tracy Grandstaff, the voice actor of Daria from the show Daria.
  • It was interesting hearing about all the shit Stamper had to deal with answering the hundreds of emails from people who either suck at English, or don't understand what a dictionary is.

Bad

  • Nothing.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Covers

Videos

Interview - The A.V. Club.
Book lecture.
Book lecture.

Links

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