Books like A History of the English Language by Richard Hogg

A satirical dictionary compiling witty and biting definitions of English words, first published in a newspaper in 1881 and later revised into book form.

The most comprehensive, easy-to-use guide to idioms used in Spanish and EnglishIdioms are the heart and soul of a language as it's actually used, and Spanish has thousands of these mystifying expressions--most of which you won't find in any bilingual dictionary. With The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms you'll never be in the dark about the meanings of idioms and colloquialisms used across the Spanish-speaking world. And you'll never be at a loss for the right turn of phrase when speaking or writing Spanish.The Big Red Book of Spanish Idioms is filled with:4,000 idioms arranged according to Spanish keywords 1,800 Spanish keywords and their English equivalents 1,800 example sentences for guidance in usage 8,000 matching English expressions An English-Spanish Index--to steer you to the right idioms, instantly Extensive cross-referencing that lets you access material in either language By matching Spanish idioms with English expressions of a similar tone or register, this dictionary makes an ideal reference not only for students of Spanish but also for Spanish-speaking learners of English.

"Written for general readers, The Story of English presents a stimulating and comprehensive record of spoken and written English - from its Anglo-Saxon origins some two thousand years ago to the present day, when English is the dominant language of commerce and culture with more than one billion English speakers around the world. From Cockney, Scouse, and Scots to Gulla, Singlish, Franglais, and the latest African American slang, this sweeping history of the English language is the essential introduction for anyone who wants to know more about our common tongue."--BOOK JACKET.

English Grammar: A University Course for Students and Teachers

Introducing English Semantics is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the study of meaning.Charles W. Kreidler presents the basic principles of this discipline. He explores how languages organize and express meanings through words, parts of words and sentences.Introducing English Semantics:* deals with relations of words to other words, and sentences to other sentences* illustrates the importance of 'tone of voice' and 'body language' in face-to-face exchanges, and the role of context in any communication* makes random comparisons of features in other languages* explores the knowledge speakers of a language must have in common to enable them to communicate* discusses the nature of language; the structure of discourse; the distinction between lexical and grammatical meaning* examines such relations as synonymy, antonymy, and hyponymy; ambiguity; implication; factivity; aspect; and modalityWritten in a clear, accessible style, Introducing English Semantics will be an essential text for any student following an introductory course in semantics. Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, all technical terms are clearly defined in an accompanying glossary and active participation is encouraged through numerous exercises.

English Grammar: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Applying Grammatical Concepts in English Language Usage and Composition, Suitable for Teachers, Students, and Non-Fiction Readers alike, with Exercises and Text Analysis Tools for Practice and Improvement.