Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language
An entertaining and highly informed guide to what languages are and how they function.



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, listeners 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 labeled 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.
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Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language
An entertaining and highly informed guide to what languages are and how they function.



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, listeners 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 labeled 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.
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Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language

Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language

by David Shariatmadari

Narrated by Damian Lynch

Unabridged — 8 hours, 59 minutes

Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language

Don't Believe a Word: The Surprising Truth About Language

by David Shariatmadari

Narrated by Damian Lynch

Unabridged — 8 hours, 59 minutes

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Overview

An entertaining and highly informed guide to what languages are and how they function.



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, listeners 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 labeled 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.

Product Details

BN ID: 2940172452499
Publisher: HighBridge Company
Publication date: 01/07/2020
Edition description: Unabridged
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