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Title details for Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter - Wait list

Nine Nasty Words

by John McWhorter
ebook
A New York Times bestseller
 
One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much.
Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.
Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.
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Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Kindle Book

  • Release date: May 4, 2021

OverDrive Read

  • ISBN: 9780593188804
  • Release date: May 4, 2021

EPUB ebook

  • ISBN: 9780593188804
  • File size: 2175 KB
  • Release date: May 4, 2021
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Formats

Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
EPUB ebook

subjects

Essays Language Arts Nonfiction Humor (Nonfiction)

Languages

English

A New York Times bestseller
 
One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much.
Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.
Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.
Expand title description text
Essays Language Arts Nonfiction Humor (Nonfiction)