The funnest books for word nerds

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The funnest books for word nerds

Rachel Lopez, Hindustan Times
September 29, 2012

First Published: 14:38 IST(29/9/2012)
Last Updated: 15:38 IST(29/9/2012)

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Ex Libris – Anne Fadiman Fadiman’s ode to the written word comes without cliché and the cloying associations of font, binding and library smells. There’s wit, anecdote and awesome turns of phrase Verbatim, edited by Erin McKean - Abandon friends and

family for these addictive chapters on slang, certain four-letter words, the history of love letters, et al.

The Meaning of Tingo – Adam Jacot de Bonoid photo: cc/David Trawin

The Meaning of Tingo – Adam Jacot: de Bonoid Italians have a term for a “rekindled romance”, Indonesians have a separate one for “take off your clothes and dance”, Japanese have a word for “looking worse after a haircut”. Unsual words and unusual meanings here. English will seem woefully inadequate.

The Language Instinct, by Stephen Pinker photo: cc/David Trawin

The Language Instinct, by Stephen Pinker: How different languages connect to the brain differently (the key is verbs!) and puts into words what the brain can’t put into words.

Hobson-Jobson: The Anglo-Indian Dictionary photo: cc/David Trawin

Hobson-Jobson: The Anglo-Indian Dictionary: This is the best way to see just how the east has influenced thought, word and life in the west. Did the ‘pariah’ cause a ‘hullabaloo’ in the ‘gymkhana’ after a ‘shampoo’? We know why.

From HT Brunch, September 30

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