The Hidden History of Coined Words

The Hidden History of Coined Words
Ralph Keyes
RRP:
NZ$ 54.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 43.99
Hardback
h235 x 156mm - 356pg
1 May 2021 US
9780190466763
Out Of Stock
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Successful word-coinages--those that stay in currency for a good long time--tend to conceal their beginnings. We take them at face value and rarely when and where they were first minted. Engaging, illuminating, and authoritative, Ralph Keyes' s The Hidden History of Coined Words explores the etymological underworld of terms and expressions and uncovers plenty of hidden gems. He also finds some fascinating patterns, such as thatsuccessful neologisms are as likely to be created by chance as by design. A remarkable number of new words were coined whimsically, originally intended to troll or taunt. Knickers, for example, resulted from a hoax;big bang from an insult. Casual wisecracking produced software, crowdsource, and blog. More than a few resulted from happy accidents, such as typos, mistranslations, and mishearing (bigly and buttonhole), or from being taken entirely out of context (robotics). Neologizers (a Thomas Jefferson coinage) include not just scholars and writers but cartoonists, columnists, children' s book authors. Wimp originated with a book series, as did goop, and nerd from a book by Dr. Seuss. Coinages are oftencontested, controversy swirling around such terms as gonzo, mojo, and booty call. Keyes considers all contenders, while also leading us through the fray between new word partisans, and those who resistthem strenuously. He concludes with advice about how to make your own successful coinage. The Hidden History of Coined Words will appeal not just to word mavens but history buffs, trivia contesters, and anyone who loves the immersive power of language.
If my reaction is typical, people will start reading and not be able to put it down. It' s very witty and learned - and interesting! * Landon Y. Jones, author of The Essential Lewis and Clark * The Hidden History of Coined Words is filled with intriguing information. Anyone who loves words, the history of language, or well-told stories will be glad they read this fascinating book. * Rosalie Maggio, author of How to Say It: Choice Words, Phrases, Sentences & Paragraphs for Every Situation *
Ralph Keyes is the author of several books, including The Post-Truth Era, cited by Oxford Dictionaries as a primary source for their 2016 "Word of the Year. " Keyes has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, The Tonight Show, ABC World News Tonight, and 20/20 (twice). He has been interviewed on All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, On the Media, and Fresh Air, and has writtenfor Esquire, GQ, Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Newsweek, Parade, Sports Illustrated, Harper' s, and The American Scholar, where he also wrote a column on language. He now lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Muriel.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780190466763
Published: 1 May 2021
Published In: United States
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Format: Hardback
Height: 235mm
Width: 156mm
Pages: 356

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