What Made The Crocodile Cry?: 101 questions about the English language

What Made The Crocodile Cry?: 101 questions about the English language

by SusieDent (Author)

Synopsis

The Blackout Crew have a song with the title 'Put a donk on it' - but what is a 'donk'? Which ending came first: '-ise' or '-ize'? Where does the idea of a 'white elephant' come from? Who decides on the collective noun for something? And what is it that made the crocodile cry? Sparkling with insight and linguistic curiosity, this delightful compendium answers 101 of the most intriguing questions about the English language, from word origins and spelling to grammar and usage. Irresistible to anyone with an interest in the words around them. Supported by Oxford's celebrated dictionary research programme, Susie Dent tackles these and many other fascinating questions in this wonderfully accessible and endlessly entertaining exploration of the English language.

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More Information

Format: Illustrated
Pages: 159
Edition: Illustrated
Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
Published: 13 Dec 2009

ISBN 10: 0199574154
ISBN 13: 9780199574155

Media Reviews
Brilliantly fascinating and entertaining. * Cotswold Life *
Author Bio
Susie Dent is a writer and broadcaster, best known for being the regular face of Dictionary Corner on Channel 4 TV's Countdown. Her books include The Language Report (2003-2007) and Words of the Year (2008).