How to Read a Word

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.

ISBN 0199574898   Pages 208 ISBN13 9780199574896 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 318 Publisher Oxford University Press   Published in Oxford Imprint Oxford University Press   Height (mm) 200 Format Hardback   Width (mm) 136 Publication date 28 Oct 2010   Spine width (mm) 22 DEWEY 422   Academic level General DEWEY edition DC22

		Introduction
1		But is it in the Dictionary?		1
2		Unlocking the Wordhoard: exploring dictionary elements		19
3		The Art of Interrogation: what questions to ask		35
4		The Art of Exploration (i): where to look for answers		55
5		The Art of Exploration (ii): how to look for answers		73
6		Interpreting the Evidence: understanding what we have found		91
7		Over to you: building up your own word files		107
		Afterword		124
8		áOranges are not the only fruit': where a single question can lead		125
		Appendix		141
		Pathways of English		143
		Overview of Dictionary History		153
		Where to Look: a selection of online resources		159
		Key Tips for Searching		167
		Glossary		169
		Endnotes		175
		Subject index		181
		Word index		185

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

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