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Don't believe a word : the surprising truth about language / David Shariatmadari.

by Shariatmadari, David.

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W.W. Norton & Company, 2020.

Language and languages.

Historical linguistics.

9781324004257 (hc.)

Alternate title:

Do not believe a word : the surprising truth about language

1st American ed.

324 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 296-314) and index.

Language is going to the dogs -- A word's origin is its true meaning -- I control what comes out of my mouth -- We can't talk to the animals -- You can't translate this word -- Italian is a language -- What you say is what you mean -- Some languages are better than others -- Language is an instinct.

"Everyone likes to think they know a bit about language: There are some words that you simply can't translate into English. The origin of a word tells you how it should be used. A dialect is inferior to a language. The problem is, none of these statements are true. In Don't Believe a Word, linguist David Shariatmadari explodes nine common myths about language and introduces us to some of the fundamental insights of modern linguistics. By the end of this eye- opening tour, readers will understand that grammatical "errors" are in fact the foundation of modern English; that the meaning of a word is not what a dictionary says, but how it's used; and that the difference between what gets labelled a "language" or "dialect" is political, rather than scientific. Don't Believe a Word offers an accessible and thorough introduction to the science behind one of the most essential aspects of our daily life"--From publisher.

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