Erica Ferencik

Please review all pictures before purchasing.

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Pennsylvania

From the author of The River at Night and Into the Jungle comes a harrowing new thriller set in the unforgiving landscape of the Arctic Circle, as a brilliant linguist struggling to understand the apparent suicide of her twin brother ventures hundreds of miles north to try to communicate with a young girl who has been thawed from the ice alive. Valerie “Val” Chesterfield is a linguist trained in the most esoteric of disciplines: dead Nordic languages. Despite her successful career, she leads a sheltered life and languishes in the shadow of her twin brother, Andy, an accomplished climate scientist stationed on a remote island off Greenland’s barren coast. But Andy is gone: a victim of suicide, having willfully ventured unprotected into 50 degree below zero weather. Val is inconsolable—and disbelieving. She suspects foul play. When Wyatt, Andy’s fellow researcher in the Arctic, discovers a scientific impossibility­—a young girl frozen in the ice who thaws out alive, speaking a language no one understands—Val is his first call. Will she travel to the frozen North to meet this girl, and try to comprehend what she is so passionately trying to communicate? Under the auspices of helping Wyatt interpret the girl’s speech, Val musters every ounce of her courage and journeys to the Artic to solve the mystery of her brother’s death. The moment she steps off the plane, her fear threatens to overwhelm her. The landscape is fierce, and Wyatt, brilliant but difficult, is an enigma. But the girl is special, and Val’s connection with her is profound. Only something is terribly wrong; the child is sick, maybe dying, and the key to saving her lies in discovering the truth about Wyatt’s research. Can his data be trusted? And does it have anything to do with how and why Val’s brother died? With time running out, Val embarks on an incredible frozen odyssey—led by the unlikeliest of guides—to rescue the new family she has found in the most unexpected of places.

Girl in Ice

e25c2ba2-2eff-4d90-87a0-5f9cb9ad2633-1

Some water (coffee?) damage to the bottom but in great shape. #hardcover #alphabetversusthegoddess #malewords #femaleimages #linguistics #etymology #history #language #leonardshlain 

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Indiana

The Alphabet Versus the Goddess

Ander Monson

An Essay Daily Reader - Ex-library copy with typical markings. Some water damage - crinkly pages, staining.

New Jersey

An Essay Daily Reader

The best of Essay Daily--each a writer in conversation with and about an essay, whatever its variety, contemporary and classic.

How We Speak to One Another

7e27a12a-1111-4d14-83e7-eb101dbeacdd-1

#hardcover #educational #linguistics #Englishlanguage #Englishlanguagedevelopmemt #OldEnglish #GermanicEnglish #developmentofEnglish

Heavy Hardcover (2 to 4 lbs)

Kansas

English

The English language is now accepted as the global lingua franca of the modern age. But how did it evolve? How did a language spoken originally be a few thousand Anglo-Saxons become one used by over a quarter of the human race? The Stories of English is a groundbreaking and entertaining history of the language by David Crystal, the world-renowned writer and linguist. Crystal turns the history of English on its head and provides a startlingly original view of where the richness, creativity, and diversity of the language truly lies-in the accents and dialects of nonstandard English users all over the world. Whatever their regional, social, or ethnic background, each group has a story worth telling, whether it is in Scotland or Canada, South Africa or the United States. Interwoven within this central chronological story are accounts of uses of dialect around the world and examples taken from current popular culture as well as literary classics. As Newsday wrote, "Crystal is bold, thoughtful, and often very funny.... His comparisons and allusions are effortless, and he's as up on Ali G and Middle Earth as he is on Anglo-Saxon and Middle English".

The Stories of English

e68659c9-2083-45c0-983d-ab123d1209ca-1

Ross Petras

Kathryn Petras

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words--And Their Tangled Histories of Misuse

For word nerds and grammar geeks, a witty guide to the most commonly mispronounced words, along with their correct pronunciations and pithy forays into their fascinating etymologies and histories of use and misuse. With wit and good humor, this handy little book not only saves us from sticky linguistic situations but also provides fascinating cocktail-party-ready anecdotes. Entries reveal how to pronounce boatswain like an old salt on the deck of a ship, trompe l'oeil like a bona fide art expert, and haricot vert like a foodie, while arming us with the knowledge of why certain words are correctly pronounced the "slangy" way (they came about before dictionaries), what stalks of grain have to do with pronunciation, and more. With bonus sidebars like "How to Sound like a Seasoned Traveler" and "How to Sound Cultured," readers will be able to speak about foreign foods and places, fashion, philosophy, and literature with authority.

You're Saying It Wrong: A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words and Their Tangled History of Misuse

0bb87bd6-9c07-4430-ba84-6ca0642efe85-1

Margalit Fox

Texas

The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code

The Riddle of the Labyrinth is the true story of the quest to solve one of the most mesmerizing linguistic riddles in history and of the three brilliant, obsessed, and ultimately doomed investigators whose combined work would eventually crack the code. An award–winning journalist trained as a linguist, Margalit Fox not only takes readers step-by-step through the forensic process involved in cracking an ancient secret code, she restores one of the primary investigators, Alice Kober, to her rightful place in what is one of the most remarkable intellectual detective stories of all time.

The Riddle of the Labyrinth

6e14429d-fe63-48e8-8713-ca8aa625c4e1-1

New York

contains a boatload of things you didnt know about the English language

Word Nerd

Lesley Jeffries

Maryland

An Introduction to Language Study

This accessible and lively introduction to semantics and the multi-faceted nature of language guides the non-specialist through the major ways in which the English language makes meaning. The author discusses the meaning of linguistic units at all levels of language, from sound to discourse and the role of theories and models themselves in helping us to understand human behavior. Through examples and exercises, readers are encouraged to think through and evaluate complex ideas and theories for themselves.

Meaning in English

d0f13022-ced0-4369-892f-21f2cb04725d-1

#paperback #nonfiction #animals #pets #dog #psychology #memoir #science #nature #linguistics 

Utah

Unlocking the Genius of the Dog Who Knows a Thousand Words

Shares the story of a Border Collie who recognized an unprecedented number of human words to explore her role in advancing understandings about animal intelligence, recounting how she also demonstrated an ability to use deductive reasoning and imitation.

Chaser

889200ed-1661-4c3e-b0d3-9eff5f305c46-1

Mary Doria Russell

1st book in the series.
Rated 4.1 out of 5 on Goodreads

A Novel

The sole survivor of a crew sent to explore a new planet, Jesuit priest Emilio Sandoz discovers an alien civilization that raises questions about the very essence of humanity, an encounter that leads Sandoz to a public inquisition and the destruction of his faith. Reader's Guide included. Reissue. 12,500 first printing.

The Sparrow

a4d65db8-53b0-47a8-bc98-041159cc80c3-1

Melissa Mohr

Paperback (1 to 2 lbs)

Virginia

A Brief History of Swearing

Almost everyone swears, or worries about not swearing, from the two year-old who has just discovered the power of potty mouth to the grandma who wonders why every other word she hears is obscene. Whether they express anger or exhilaration, are meant to insult or to commend, swear words perform a crucial role in language. But swearing is also a uniquely well-suited lens through which to look at history, offering a fascinating record of what people care about on the deepest levels of a culture--what's divine, what's terrifying, and what's taboo. Holy Sh*t tells the story of two kinds of swearing--obscenities and oaths--from ancient Rome and the Bible to today. With humor and insight, Melissa Mohr takes readers on a journey to discover how "swearing" has come to include both testifying with your hand on the Bible and calling someone a *#$&!* when they cut you off on the highway. She explores obscenities in ancient Rome--which were remarkably similar to our own--and unearths the history of religious oaths in the Middle Ages, when swearing (or not swearing) an oath was often a matter of life and death. Holy Sh*t also explains the advancement of civility and corresponding censorship of language in the 18th century, considers the rise of racial slurs after World War II, examines the physiological effects of swearing (increased heart rate and greater pain tolerance), and answers a question that preoccupies the FCC, the US Senate, and anyone who has recently overheard little kids at a playground: are we swearing more now than people did in the past? A gem of lexicography and cultural history, Holy Sh*t is a serious exploration of obscenity--and it also just might expand your repertoire of words to choose from the next time you shut your finger in the car door.

Holy Sh*t

6a6aa667-2f28-4b66-a357-fd29780b0c59-0

New Mexico

Alaska

The Silent Language 

Strictly Speaking 

Vermont

Noam Chomsky

Michel Foucault

On Human Nature

"Chomsky vs Foucault" deals with current affairs/political science.

The Chomsky-Foucault Debate

006b8b80-19dd-4d1c-8e47-6784e462b499-1

Discover the Surprising Etymology of Everyday Words

This book is awesome awful!

Did you know that "awful" first originated as a compliment? How about the fact that it was perfectly fine for someone to defecate in their living room? Or that at one time a bully was actually a sweetheart?

You may think that these things sound outlandish, but hundreds of years ago, the words "awful," "defecate," and "bully" meant something entirely different than what we know today. The Unexpected Evolution of Language reveals the origins of 208 everyday terms and the interesting stories behind their shift in meaning.
Arranged in alphabetical order, you will enjoy uncovering the backstories to terms like:

 * Awful - worthy of respect or fear; inspiring awe
 * Bimbo - slang for a stupid, inconsequential man
 * Defecate - to purify; cleanse
 * Invest - to clothe; to dress
 * Nice - foolish; stupid
 * Relay - hunting term meaning fresh pack of hounds


From "aftermath" and "sophisticated" to "empty" and "prestige," you will aboslutely love seeing just what kind of damage time has done to the English language.

The Unexpected Evolution of Language

4ad7d6b6-1c76-4f8e-ab92-cfebc5011d58-1

Part history, part travelog. One appendix includes tables of multiple major alphabets. 

Arizona

How 26 Letters Shaped the Western World

Praise for Alpha Beta
"This book comes at the perfect moment as we rediscover the importance in early reading of cracking the alphabetic code. The story of how that code came into being is a fascinating one, and Man is the ideal writer to tell it." Times Educational Supplement

"A richly absorbing exploration, from B.C. to PCs, of the evolution of the most fundamental characters of our cultural history, the alphabet we so much take for granted. John Man writes with a compellingly restless curiosity and immediacy. The ever surprising, exotically detailed narrative in his informative book makes it as undryly enjoyable as a successful archaelogical dig of one of Alan Moorehead s colorful histories of African exploration." David Grambs, author of The Describer s Dictionary and The Endangered English Dictionary

"Text that is crisp, taut, and as clear as a bell.... A fascinating story with many a beguiling subplot along the way." New Scientist

"Letter perfect the best histories and mysteries of our ABC s!" Jeff McQuain, author of Never Enough Words and Power Language

Alpha Beta

344b7363-4019-43e8-ad69-8504e3188673-1

#hardcover #nonfiction #english #language #history #linguistics #writing #vocabulary #languagearts #stories 

Why Do We Say It? uncovers the roots of the English language and connects them to their intriguing origins. From idioms to cliches, this comprehensive book shows you the way around the English language The intriguing origins of hundreds of unusual words and expressions are here for your perusal, handily organized in an alphabetical format. Useful for reference or just for browsing, Why Do We Say It? is also a great way to expand your vocabulary and have fun while doing it. This edition makes a wonderful gift for readers, writers, scholars, and students. Uncover the mysteries of the modern English language and share the facts and trivia with your family and friends.

Why Do We Say It? : The Stories Behind the Words, Expressions, and Cliches We Use

1c6c669d-d8e0-4479-a13d-c6155cd3f328-1

West Virginia

Maggie Balistreri

More than just a dictionary of euphemisms by a hip young linguist, The Evasion-English Dictionary is a merciless translation of the banalities of contemporary speech. It's also scathingly funny. For example, Balistreri asks what if you substituted the word "you" for the phrase "the relationship" in the sentence, "There seem to be a lot of problems with the relationship." Or what if you substituted the word "because" for the word "but" in the sentence "They drive me crazy but my parents are very involved in my life." Entertaining as it is, however, the E.E.D. is also a thought-provoking and insightful look into the twists and turns of modern English usage a smart and useful, albeit hysterical, earwitness account of verbal mishaps and manipulations that's destined to become a classic with language lovers and a useful reference tool on the desk of writers everywhere.

The Evasion-English Dictionary

12b9d8bf-136d-469c-8190-357c7745057f-1

Do you know the origin of the modern word skates, or what a quacksalver was? Have you ever known anyone who was forswunke? These are but a few of the forty-eight lost or 'misplaced' Old English words that linguist and historian Jeffrey Kacirk has gathered for this deck of Knowledge Cards. In learning what these archaic words mean, we also discover the roots and origins of modern-day words and expressions all the while adding some robust language to our own vocabulary. Each card in this deck presents a word on one side and its definition on the other, making for a collection that is far from blash!

These 48 fact-filled Knowledge Cards are a great source of condensed information all in a deck the size of a pack of playing cards! Each card has a piquant word or phrase on one side, with its translation or explanation on the other. Expand your vocabulary and understanding with this enlightening, stress-free compilation.

Massachusetts

Volume I Knowledge Cards

Forgotten English

#paperback #nonfiction #reference #writing #language #english #rhyming #poetry #dictionary #linguistics 

The Penguin Rhyming Dictionary is an indispensable reference companion for anyone who writes verse - whether lyric poet, songwriter or composer of limericks or jingles. Clearly arranged and easy to use, it offers an astonishing wide range of suggestions for rhyming words, from the common and everyday to the more difficult and obscure.

The Penguin Rhyming Dictionary (Penguin Books, 1985)

d3e9accf-549c-4d7d-b8ee-ef1c874cffd6-1

#paperback #educational #nonfiction #language #humor #writing #english #grammar #selfhelp #linguistics 

Browse by categories

Save this search

Erica Ferencik

Girl in Ice

Leonard Shlain

The Alphabet Versus the Goddess

Ander Monson, Craig Reinbold

How We Speak to One Another

David Crystal

The Stories of English

Ross Petras; Kathryn Petras

You're Saying It Wrong: A Pronunciation Guide to the 150 Most Commonly Mispronounced Words and Their Tangled History of Misuse

Margalit Fox

The Riddle of the Labyrinth

Michael Powell

Word Nerd

Lesley Jeffries

Meaning in English

John W. Pilley; Hilary Hinzmann; John W. Pilley

Chaser

Mary Doria Russell

The Sparrow

Melissa Mohr

Holy Sh*t

Mary Doria Russell

The Sparrow

Edward T Hall

The Silent Language

Edwin Newman

Strictly Speaking

Erica Ferencik

Girl in Ice

Noam Chomsky; Michel Foucault

The Chomsky-Foucault Debate

Justin Cord Hayes

The Unexpected Evolution of Language

John Man

Alpha Beta

Editors of Chartwell Books

Why Do We Say It? : The Stories Behind the Words, Expressions, and Cliches We Use

Mary Doria Russell

The Sparrow

Maggie Balistreri

The Evasion-English Dictionary

Jeffrey Kacirk

Forgotten English

Rosalind Fergusson; Market House Books Ltd.

The Penguin Rhyming Dictionary (Penguin Books, 1985)

Lynne Truss

Eats, Shoots and Leaves : The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation