World English: From Aloha to Zed (Hardcover)
by Robert Hendrickson (Author)
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Around the world, more than a billion people speak English, some fluently and some with only a passing familiarity. Here Hendrickson has compiled a fair representation of words spoken by English speakers of many types, balancing the number of words with the detail of their definitions in a single-volume dictionary. Hendrickson's love of the English language is apparent in his unusual presentation of the book's entries, which provide etymology and region of origin. The heavy emphasis on words from North America and the British Isles is, however, unfortunate. Many sources already cover idioms and expressions from these regions, and the expressions that have gained popularity in places where English is spoken less than perfectly are often the most interesting and illuminating. Hendrickson's previous 25 books include Salty Words, a book about sailors' lexicon, and Animal Crackers, about words we have derived from our relationships with animals. While his latest is entertaining and informative, it is not a topnotch reference book. Manya Chylinski, Ernst & Young Ctr. for Business Knowledge, Boston
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
Around the world, more than a billion people speak English, some fluently and some with only a passing familiarity. Here Hendrickson has compiled a fair representation of words spoken by English speakers of many types, balancing the number of words with the detail of their definitions in a single-volume dictionary. Hendrickson's love of the English language is apparent in his unusual presentation of the book's entries, which provide etymology and region of origin. The heavy emphasis on words from North America and the British Isles is, however, unfortunate. Many sources already cover idioms and expressions from these regions, and the expressions that have gained popularity in places where English is spoken less than perfectly are often the most interesting and illuminating. Hendrickson's previous 25 books include Salty Books, a book about sailors' lexicon, and Animal Crackers, about words we have derived from our relationship with animals. While his latest is entertaining and informing, it is not a topnotch reference book.
--Library Journal
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Product Details
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Wiley (April 13, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0471345180
ISBN-13: 978-0471345183
Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches |