How to Read a Word

First Edition

Elizabeth Knowles

Chapter-based guide that surveys the many questions we can ask about the words we encounter every day
Explores a rich range of online resources in pursuing the answers to such questions
Engagingly written in an accessible style, with many useful tips and practical advice on avoiding common pitfalls
Covers word use, origins, spellings, meanings, and collocations
Support material includes a fascinating account of the history of the English language, and an overview of dictionary history
A full index and glossary are included, as well as word lists and panels and lists to expand on specific examples
Utilizes the unrivalled resources and language monitoring programs behind Oxford Dictionaries

How to Read a Word

First Edition

Elizabeth Knowles

Description

Have you ever wondered how you can find out more about a word: Where did it come from? How has its meaning altered? How can it be pronounced? What is its relationship to other words? Language is not fixed, but is an evolutionary process: words develop and change, in meaning, association, and pronunciation, as well as in many other ways. Exploring the routes taken by the words we choose to investigate leads us on fascinating journeys. How to Read a Word, written by the noted lexicographer Elizabeth Knowles, shows us how we might delve into the origins, associations, and evolution of words, and is primarily concerned with the following two points: what questions can be asked about a word? And how can they be answered?

Utilising the unrivalled resources and the language-monitoring programs of the Oxford English Dictionary, the book leads you through the various stages of investigation into the myriad aspects of individual words, from etymology to date of first use and regional distribution, and from spelling and pronunciation to shifts in meaning.

Supported by many examples of investigation into specific words, and featuring a full index, a wide selection of useful online resources, and reams of useful tips for avoiding common pitfalls, it is both a thought-provoking and practical handbook, providing readers with the essential tools to confidently interrogate the words by which they are surrounded. How to Read a Word is the perfect gift for anyone who is fascinated by the development and intricacies of the English language.

How to Read a Word

First Edition

Elizabeth Knowles

Introduction
1: But is it in the dictionary?
2: Unlocking the wordhoard
3: The art of interrogation: what questions to ask
4: The art of exploration (i): where to look for answers
5: The art of exploration (ii): how to look for answers
6: Interpreting the evidence: understanding what we have found
7: Over to you: building up your own word files as a word explorer
8: Afterword - 'Oranges are not the only fruit': an examination of satsuma and related terms to illustrate the range of possibilities for exploration
Appendices
Pathways of English
Overview of Dictionary History
Where to Look: a selection of online resources
Key tips for online research
Glossary
Indices
Subject index
Word index

How to Read a Word

First Edition

Elizabeth Knowles

Reviews and Awards

"For anyone interested in dictionaries, and in getting the best out of them, this is an excellent little text: ideal for library and science students and novices at the enquiry desk." - Bob Ducket, Reference Reviews Journal

How to Read a Word

First Edition

Elizabeth Knowles

From Our Blog

The Oxford Comment Challenge

Are you capable of listening to a podcast? Are you also capable of taking a quiz? Great. That means you have a chance to win a copy of Elizabeth Knowles' How to Read a Word.

Posted on June 9, 2011

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