Linguistics

The now-classic Metaphors We Live By changed our understanding of metaphor and its role in language and the mind. Metaphor, authors George Lakoff and Mark Johnson explain, is a fundamental mechanism of mind, one that allows us to use what we know about our physical and social experience to...

Daniel Everett, then a Christian missionary, arrived among the Pirahã in 1977 - with his wife and three young children - intending to convert them. What he found was a language that defies all existing linguistic theories and reflects a way of life that evades contemporary understanding. The...

At thirty years old, Gabriel Wyner speaks six languages fluently—and he didn’t learn them in school. Here he wants to show others what he’s discovered.

This audiobook provides evidence-based answers to the key questions asked by marketers every day....

In Made in America, Bryson de-mythologizes his native land....

An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners. Short Stories in Italian for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly -...

In 1904, Great Britain was at the height of its prosperity; but G. K. Chesterton saw the drudgery of capitalism and bureaucracy eating away at the eccentricity and spontaneity of the human spirit. In The Napoleon of Notting Hill, his first novel, Chesterton creates a witty satire of staid...

This course offers an overview of the English language that is literary, historical, cultural, political, and scientific in its scope....

This guide enables you to create an authentic Australian accent. The course starts by discussing the oral posture necessary to develop an Australian accent including various exercises to help apply the knowledge areas that are discussed....

'A breathtaking adventure through the alphabet... An absolutely delightful read, filled with jewels of lightly worn scholarship and dazzling insight. I just couldn't recommend it more highly.' Stephen Fry 'An excellent read.' Susie Dent 'You'll never look at a keyboard the same way after reading...

“One of those life-changing reads that makes you see—or, in this case, hear—the whole world differently.” —Megan Angelo, author of Followers “At times chilling, often funny, and always perceptive and cogent, Cultish is a bracing reminder that the scariest thing about cults is that...

Roughly half the world's population speaks languages derived from a shared linguistic source known as Proto-Indo-European. But who were the early speakers of this ancient mother tongue, and how did they manage to spread it around the globe? Until now, their identity has remained a tantalizing...

Mankind has a distinct advantage over other terrestrial species: we talk to one another. But how did we acquire the most advanced form of communication on Earth? Daniel L. Everett, a "bombshell" linguist and "instant folk hero" (Tom Wolfe, Harper's), provides in this sweeping history a...

UNLOCK THE BEAUTY OF THE IRISH LANGUAGE WITH EASE! In The Gaeilge Guide, Mollie Guidera - Ireland's leading online Irish teacher and creator of the hit platform 'Irish with Mollie' - brings her joyful, down-to-earth approach to the page in a book guaranteed to spark your connection to the Irish...

Have you ever bunged it on? Behaved like a drongo? Added mayo to a story? Lost your Reg Grundies? Join bestselling storyteller William McInnes as he offers his own take on our colourful and colloquial way with words. From the simpler times of childhood to today's testing (and unprecedented!)...

Whether we’re aware of it or not, we spend much of our time in this globalised world in the act of translation....

In On the Tip of My Tongue, logophile and television star Tom Read Wilson takes a delicious dive into the etymology and usage of words, euphemisms and bon mots. Written with his trademark sparkling wit, the star of Celebs Go Dating and self-avowed word-lover presents a hilarious and fascinating...

The Irish language has thirty-two words for field. Among them are: Geamhar – a field of corn-grass Tuar – a field for cattle at night Reidhlean – a field for games or dancing Cathairin – a field with a fairy-dwelling in it. The richness of the Irish language is closely tied...

In this classic, the world’s expert on language and mind lucidly explains everything you always wanted to know about language: how it works, how children learn it, how it changes, how the brain computes it, and how it evolved. With deft use of examples of humor and wordplay, Steven Pinker...

Thomas De Quincey's highly charged and hauntingly accurate account of laudanum addiction is considered the root of all drug novels....

In a single volume, the seminal writings of the world's leading philosopher, linguist, and critic, published to coincide with his 80th birthday....

Three hundred million years ago, in Carboniferous times, dragonflies grew as big as seagulls, with wingspans of nearly a meter. Researchers claim they could have flown only if the air had contained more oxygen than today - probably as much as 35 percent. Giant spiders, tree ferns, marine rock...

Mr. Royston is driving his hansom through the night-time streets of Melbourne when he is hailed by a man supporting a slumped, intoxicated figure and requesting that the cabman take the unfortunate fellow home - before proceeding to drop his burden and make a rapid exit....

Like Tom Jones before him, Barry Lyndon is one of the most lively and roguish characters in English literature....

An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners. Short Stories in Russian for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly -...

Embark on an epic history of human evolution to discover how simple primitive sounds forged global civilization. Perfect for a thought-provoking commute, this mind-expanding narrative treats the origins of speech like a gripping prehistoric detective story. Experience the profound wonder of our...

Experience a witty, dramatic history of lexicography and the doomed quest to tame the wild animal of human language. Whether you are seeking a captivating narrative nonfiction escape for your morning commute or satisfying a deep intellectual curiosity, this story reveals the hidden battles...

Uncover the chaotic linguistic history behind our everyday vocabulary, tracing how empires and internet culture collide. Perfect for an engaging morning commute, this energetic exploration transforms grammar quirks and spelling chaos into a fascinating narrative of human survival and adaptation...

Explore the captivating cultural history of linguistics, where eccentric scholars battled to tame rebellious living speech. Perfect for a stimulating morning commute, this thought-provoking narrative turns an ordinary reference tool into a gripping saga of ambition, power, and obsession. Whether...

Uncover the rebellious linguistic history of how underground slang outsmarts strict grammar rules to shape pop culture. Perfect for an energizing morning commute or a curious afternoon of deep listening, this fascinating history proves the official rulebook is always late to the party. Language...

Journey through the history of linguistics to see how ancient societies turned spoken words into permanent visible text. Perfect for your daily commute or deep intellectual exploration, this thought-provoking narrative transports curious minds back to a time when memory ruled the world. Witness...

Discover the linguistic history and cultural evolution of a tribal dialect that accidentally conquered the globe. Surviving violent Viking raids, military conquests, and relentless reshaping by foreign speakers, this living language refused to die. Instead, it absorbed everything in its path to...

Master the vibrant linguistics of Deaf culture and unlock the profound power of visual, nonverbal communication. Perfect for your daily commute or a focused learning session, this eye-opening journey shatters widespread myths about how humans connect. Move beyond basic gestures to explore a...

Uncover the evolutionary history of human communication, tracing our journey from prehistoric grunts to the digital age. Perfect for curious minds seeking an educational commute, this thought-provoking deep dive explores how a clever primate developed the tools for complex speech. Far from dry...

Explore the fascinating psychology of taboo linguistics to uncover why forbidden words secretly control human emotions. Whether you are seeking a thought-provoking companion for your daily commute or looking to satisfy your deep curiosity about human nature, this eye-opening journey reveals the...

Explore the resilient history of deaf culture and the linguistic battles that shaped vibrant visual languages. Perfect for your daily commute or an afternoon of mindful learning, this inspiring narrative travels from ancient civilizations to the digital age. Discover how marginalized communities...

Unlock the rebellious history of profanity and discover why taboo language commands such raw psychological power. Perfect for a long, entertaining commute, this lively linguistic journey reveals how curses and insults actively shape human emotion, culture, and social dynamics. Far from a simple...

Uncover the linguistic history of how a tiny tribal dialect conquered the Roman Empire and built the modern world. Perfect for an educational commute, this intellectual journey reveals the hidden mechanics of human communication. Watch a marginalized tongue transform into the global voice of law...

Discover the sweeping history of linguistics and human evolution, tracing our journey from ancient grunts to modern AI. Perfect for an educational daily commute, this thought-provoking deep dive reveals how shared sounds transformed into world-building power. Language is not merely a tool for...

Master foreign languages through stress-free immersive learning instead of battling exhausting grammar drills and burnout. Whether you are listening on your daily commute or navigating a busy adult schedule, this cognitive science approach transforms your everyday environment into a natural...