Books on Words

[Slava]

As a separate idea from a literary book discussion section, how about a section on discussing Books on Words? I'm just finishing "Eats, Shoots & Leaves," which is what makes me think of this. I've read a couple of other trivia books and collections of weird words, as I'm sure most of the Agora has. Perhaps some of the folks out there would like a spot into which they can spout off?

Slava

[Perry]

No books leap to my own memory banks, but I like the idea.

[Bailey]

I'm reading "The Lady in White" by Wilke Collins, written in that florid 19th century style that seems to take a 1000 words to say one simple thought, I hear they made a Broadway Musical from it, sigh.

mark may-take-a-long-time-to-read Bailey

Oh, Books ON words, not books with too many words, sowwy

[sluggo]

Does "Mots d'Heures: Gousses, Rames" count? Is it just me, or was that one of the funniest books I've ever read?

Sadly mine copy is lost to the ages though this site has several that sadly lack the explanations which I thought were the best part of the book:

Reine, reine, gueux éveille.
Gomme à gaine, en horreur, taie.

("Queen, Queen, arouse the rabble
Who use their girdles -horrors- as pillow slips")

[Stargzer]

Does "Mots d'Heures: Gousses, Rames" count? Is it just me, or was that one of the funniest books I've ever read?
...

Hmmmm ... SYSTRNet turned this:

Eh ! dites-le, dites-le,
de quatre et méfie de le.
Haine de caoutchouc me
Douvres de mou.
Le lit le dos que l’a fait de
Tous s’y sèchent à c’port
Et de digérant, ohé!
Ouida, ce pou.

which is supposed to be "Hey, Diddle, Diddle!" into this:

Eh! say it, say it,
of four and is wary of.
Hatred of rubber me
Dover of slackness.
The bed the back that made of
All dries there with it port
And of digesting, ohé!
Ouida, this louse.

... although WordReference.com was able to translate ohé as ship ahoy, ahoy there, and hello.


I think something got lost in the translation ...

[gailr]

I liked The Deluxe Transitive Vampire (Subject-Verb Agreement: "The lingua franca in these parts is Rumanian mixed with blood and cash.") and Torn Wings and Faux Pas.

I've found the former helpful when tutoring catch-up reading/writing skills, and nominate the latter to replace Strunk and White.

-gailr

[Slava]

Actually, Mark Bailey's post is what I was thinking of for the Have You Read..? suggestion.

As he noted, this idea was Books on Woids, i.e.:

Horsefeathers - Funk, Charles Earle & Charles Earle, Jr.

A wonderful romp through some 600 curious words and their origins.

I first read this book as a child, which is what I got for having a reference librarian and used book dealer for a mother, eh?

However, I loved every minute of it. It's entertaining, easy to read, and if you make a point of remembering what you've learned, a great way to be a know-it-all.

There are two others: "Thereby Hangs a Tale" and "Heavens to Betsy." If they're anything like "Horsefeathers," you'll be happy to have all three.

Regards,

Slava

[Ferrus]

Steven Pinker's books are a good read for those interested in linguistics.

[Modi]

Shouldn't we consider that anybook even if it was literature as long as it contains a rich variety of vocabulary, old and new?