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Title details for Nine Nasty Words by John McWhorter - Wait list

Nine Nasty Words

by John McWhorter
John McWhorter
Audiobook
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A New York Times bestseller
 
One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much.
Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.
Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.
Expand title description text
Publisher: Books on Tape Edition: Unabridged

OverDrive Listen audiobook

  • ISBN: 9780593344873
  • File size: 197986 KB
  • Release date: May 4, 2021
  • Duration: 06:52:28

MP3 audiobook

  • ISBN: 9780593344873
  • File size: 198016 KB
  • Release date: May 4, 2021
  • Duration: 06:58:25
  • Number of parts: 8

Formats

OverDrive Listen audiobook
MP3 audiobook

subjects

Essays Language Arts Nonfiction Humor (Nonfiction)

Languages

English

A New York Times bestseller
 
One of the preeminent linguists of our time examines the realms of language that are considered shocking and taboo in order to understand what imbues curse words with such power—and why we love them so much.
Profanity has always been a deliciously vibrant part of our lexicon, an integral part of being human. In fact, our ability to curse comes from a different part of the brain than other parts of speech—the urgency with which we say "f&*k!" is instead related to the instinct that tells us to flee from danger.
Language evolves with time, and so does what we consider profane or unspeakable. Nine Nasty Words is a rollicking examination of profanity, explored from every angle: historical, sociological, political, linguistic. In a particularly coarse moment, when the public discourse is shaped in part by once-shocking words, nothing could be timelier.
Expand title description text
Essays Language Arts Nonfiction Humor (Nonfiction)
  • Details

    Publisher:
    Books on Tape
    Edition:
    Unabridged

    OverDrive Listen audiobook
    ISBN: 9780593344873
    File size: 197986 KB
    Release date: May 4, 2021
    Duration: 06:52:28

    MP3 audiobook
    ISBN: 9780593344873
    File size: 198016 KB
    Release date: May 4, 2021
    Duration: 06:58:25
    Number of parts: 8

  • Creators
  • Formats
    OverDrive Listen audiobook
    MP3 audiobook
  • Languages
    English
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