Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever

Name: Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever
Brand: Avery Publishing Group
SKU: 9780593188798
Price: 20.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Regular price £20.00

Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever

Hardcover – May 4, 2021

by John McWhorter (Author)

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.

About the Author

John H. McWhorter teaches linguistics, American studies, and music history at Columbia University. He is a contributing editor at The Atlantic and host of Slate's Lexicon Valley podcast. McWhorter is the author of twenty books, including The Power of Babel: A Natural History of Language, Losing the Race: Self-Sabotage in Black America, and Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue: The Untold History of English.

Publisher : Avery (May 4, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593188799
ISBN-13 : 9780593188798
Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
Dimensions : 5.22 x 0.93 x 7.28 inches

Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever

Nine Nasty Words: English in the Gutter: Then, Now, and Forever

Hardcover – May 4, 2021

About the Author

You might also like