Persuading People: An Introduction to Rhetoric

A treasury of unusual words

Let Catherine Blyth take you on an entertaining tour of the neglected art of conversation. You'll never think of talk as cheap ever again ...

Takes readers through the history of the English language and its etymology. This work discusses the trends, innovations and scandals that have shaped the meanings of our most popular words and expressions, from Chaucer to Internet jargon and Ancient Greek to American slang.

Have you ever wondered what phrases such as 'square meal', 'load of old codswallop', 'egg on your face' or 'in the limelight' mean? Where do they come from? Have you ever taken a moment to wonder what we say actually means? This book explains the origins of hundreds of common phrases.

Examining the mother tongue, this book explores the countless varieties of English and the perils of marketing brands with names like Pschitt and Super Piss. It also contains sections on the oddities of swearing and spelling, spoonerisms and Scrabble, and a consideration of what we mean by 'good English'.

The English language is crammed with colorful phrases and sayings that we use without thinking every day. This book explores the origins of phrases from the rich traditions of the navy, army and law to confidence tricksters and highwaymen, from the practices of ancient civilizations to Music Hall and pubs.

Using evidence from the world's largest language databank, the Oxford English Corpus, Butterfield uncovers fascinating facts about the English language. Where does our vocabulary come from? How is our language really being used? How do word meanings change? This entertaining book has the authoritative answers to key questions about our language.

From the brash jargon of celebrity magazines to the delicacies and feints of the euphemism, this work uncovers the stories that lie behind some of our best-loved words and expressions. It show you where thugs come from, why 'barmy' once had more to do with your beer than your brain, and how a little bit of 'hanky-panky' could literally work magic.

A witty and insightful snapshot of current language via an A-Z collection of new and newly resurrected words. Highlighting the topical words of our time and delving into fascinating etymologies along the way, Susie Dent presents a lively and authoritative work on the English language as it is today.

The ideal travel companion a quick and easy introduction to Polish with a comprehensive phrase book, menu reader and a 60-minute CD to help you get to grips with the basics of a conversation before your trip.