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Lederer, Richard, 1938-

Crazy English : the ultimate joy ride through our language / - New York : Pocket Books, �1989. - 189 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm

I: The strange case of the English language. English is a crazy language ; Confusable English ; Good grief! ; Sesquipedalian English -- II: The name is the game. What's your phobia? ; The secrets of "nym" ; Brand-new eponyms ; Janus-faced English ; A hymn to heteronyms -- III: Figuratively speaking. A visit to the language zoo ; You said a mouthful ; Violent English -- IV: Unmechanical English. Foxen in the henhice ; Tense times with verbs ; Spellbound -- V: The sounds of English. Sound and sense ; Beautiful English ; Alliteration strikes the nation ; Rhyme time -- VI: English at play. The play of words ; Anagrammatical English ; Doctor Rotcod's ailihphilia -- VII: The last word about words. The antics of semantics.

Demonstrates that logic is sometimes absent from the standard deviations in English usage and how language secrets are revealed in winks, allusions, sighs, and giggles.



ISBN: 0671689061 9780671689063

LCCN: 89182592

Subjects--Topical Terms:
Lexicology.
Lexicology--Humor.

Subjects--Geographic Terms:
Englisch.

Index Terms--Genre/Form:
Humor.

LC Class. No.: PE1095 / .L37 1989

Dewey Class. No.: 428/.00207