Word by word
2017
- encyclopedias and dictionaries
- lexicography
- lexicographers
- history and criticism
- biography
- history
- encyclopedias and dictionaries, history and criticism
- reference
- dictionaries
- biography & autobiography
The story
"Brimming with intelligence and personality, a vastly entertaining account of how dictionaries are made - a must read for word mavens. Have you ever tried to define the word "is?" Do you have strong feelings about the word (and, yes, it is a word) "irregardless?" Did you know that OMG was first used in 1917, in a letter to Winston Churchill? These are the questions that keep lexicographers up at night. While most of us might take dictionaries for granted, the process of writing dictionaries is in fact as lively and dynamic as language itself. With sharp wit and irreverence, Kory Stamper cracks open the complex, obsessive world of lexicography, from the agonizing decisions about what and how to define, to the knotty questions of usage in an ever-changing language. She explains why the small words are the most difficult to define, how it can take nine months to define a single word, and how our biases about language and pronunciation can have tremendous social influence. Throughout Stamper brings to life the hallowed halls (and highly idiosyncratic cubicles) of Merriam-Webster, a surprisingly rich world inhabited by quirky and erudite individuals who quietly shape the way we communicate. A sure delight for all lovers of words, Harmless Drudges will also improve readers' grasp and use of the English language"--
What it’s like
Crisp, conversational nonfiction with the texture of a well-stocked office: wry asides about cramped cubicles, index cards, and the stubborn little words that refuse to be pinned down. The voice is brisk and funny without being glib, sliding from anecdote to etymology to a sly aside about pronunciation politics, so the pages feel like a friend leaning over your shoulder with a red pen and a grin. Chapters are short and self-contained, which suits dipping in during a lunch break or reading one stretch at a time on a quiet evening with a mug of tea. Emotional register is warm and self-deprecating, with an underlying affection for the people who spend years on a single entry and the quiet dignity of their labour; there is little tension beyond the question of how a definition should read. Intensity is gentle: no violence, no sexual content, nothing frightening, just mild profanity and the odd bawdy example. It suits word lovers, curious readers who enjoy behind-the-scenes looks at how everyday things are made, and anyone who has ever argued with a dictionary and wanted to know who wrote it.
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