Some years ago, I really enjoyed reading David Crystal’s By Hook or by Crook; a Journey in Search of English so I was delighted when I saw he had a new book out – Bookish Words and their surprising stories, published this year. What a delightful little book this is! I’d love to have a nosey around in David Crystal’s study which must be packed with dictionaries, thesauruses and other books devoted to words and their histories and meanings.
This book looks at the origins and stories behind an amazing variety of words associated with books and publishing. I learned when the dotted line first appeared, was informed about the development of stop the press, front-page news and hit the headlines. What are the etymologies of icon, ink, cook the books, caption, catchword, stereotype, rubber stamp, Ps and Qs, watermark and proof? In a recent issue of my newsletter, I wrote about the history of the pencil. I was relieved to see that all my facts accorded with those provided in this book.
The English language is said to contain roughly a million words. Most of us will never use a large proportion of those, but words pertaining to books are ones I use often. And, of course, we all use them thoughtlessly, or we gloss over them (gloss is another entry in this book) without stopping to think how they were first used. David Crystal has a good sense of humour and he shows in entertaining ways how the words included in his book have been used as company names, product names, or have taken on new internet meanings. I loved the entry on graffiti – should a single instance of it be graffiti or graffito? To illustrate his points, he includes quotes from newspaper headlines, from Shakespeare, and from social media.
It is very clear that the world of books has played a striking role in the history of English vocabulary, with the word “book” itself being one of the oldest words in the language. David Crystal wears his learning lightly and makes the study of linguistics huge fun.
This is a book for anyone who loves books and words. Do you love words too? Let me know in a comment.
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Helen
Yes, I love words – my current favourite : quidditty – the essence of something, someone – I saw it described as the ‘you-ness’ of you.
Susannah Fullerton
Oh I do like that definiteion of Quidditty. Thanks.
Honey
How can anyone not love learning new words? Two of my favorite words, not literary, but descriptive, are Solipsist and paradigm. I am a paradigm of a solipsist.
When one reads and learns newly coined words, it is always a lovely surprise.
Susannah Fullerton
I agree! Words are endlessly fascinating. My cirrent favourite is Librocubicularist, which means a person who loves to read in bed.
Ruth Wilson
Thank you, Susannah, for introducing me to David Crystal and his richly comprehensive knowledge of the English language from the perspective of historic linguistics. It has been a learning experience par excellence, opening my mind to ideas I had not previously entertained – about global languages, about dialects, about the teaching of standard English, and about the internet and what it means, language-wise, to contemporary generations including my own, newly named thanks to David Crystal, Gen V (for Vintage!). I am looking forward to continuing to explore his brilliant talks.
Susannah Fullerton
I am so pleased that my recommendation has led you down a new and fascinating path, Ruth. Let me know if you want to borrow his books. I loved them.