Just A Phrase I'm Going Through: My Life in Language
Kidnapping, attempted assassination, espionage…not the answers you’d expect to the question ‘what happens when you become a linguist?’\ But now, reflecting on a long and hugely successful career at the forefront of the field of English Language and Linguistics, David Crystal answers this question and offers us a special look behind the scenes at the adventures, rewards, challenges and pitfalls of his life in language.\ Both an autobiography and a highly accessible introduction to the field of...
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Kidnapping, attempted assassination, espionage … not the answers you’d expect to the question ‘what happens when you become a linguist?’But now, reflecting on a long and hugely successful career at the forefront of the field of English Language and Linguistics, David Crystal answers this question and offers us a special look behind the scenes at the adventures, rewards, challenges and pitfalls of his life in language.Both an autobiography and a highly accessible introduction to the field of linguistics, Just a Phrase I’m Going Through illuminates and entertains us with its many insights into the ever-fascinating subject of language.David Crystal is synonymous with language, both as a great populariser and linguistic pioneer, and his contribution to the field is unparalleled. This is a book not just for students and teachers but for all lovers of language.For more about David Crystal at Routledge, visit: www.routledge.com/textbooks/9780415485746. Library Journal Prolific linguist Crystal tells more than his own story, remarkable for his role as an independent scholar. Infused with the title's humor and suspense, Crystal's narratives also sketch his field. The stories answer both professional and personal questions, such as, for example, What is a linguist? What do linguists do? What kind of linguist are you? What prepared you for and drew you to the field? How many languages do you speak? What is your family background? And why do you wear a beard? Chronological organization of 19 chapters spreads topics like family life over many chapters. Crystal embraces this storytelling challenge to mingle professional anecdotes with family experiences. He gradually reveals heritage bridging Northern Ireland, North Wales, Liverpool, London, Catholicism, and Judaism. For example, Chapter 17 describes an emotional encounter with his father and also a piece on choosing how to refer to the former Soviet Union in late 1991 as an encyclopedia editor. VERDICT A unique, lengthy, and substantial autobiography, this is recommended for academics and memoir fanatics.—Marianne Orme, Des Plaines P.L., IL
1. Being a Linguist 2. A Semilingual Start 3. New Worlds 4. Liverpool School 5. Extra-curricular Acts 6. Learning, and Not Learning, About Language 7. Becoming Academic 8. Surveying 9. Worlds Within Worlds 10. Becoming Professional 11. The Sexy Subject 12. Meeting a Need 13. Choices and Consequences 14. Meetings and Meetings 15. Looking for Remedies 16. Why Did You Resign? 17. The Encyclopedia Game 18. Schizoid Man 19. Busyness and Business
\ Library JournalProlific linguist Crystal tells more than his own story, remarkable for his role as an independent scholar. Infused with the title's humor and suspense, Crystal's narratives also sketch his field. The stories answer both professional and personal questions, such as, for example, What is a linguist? What do linguists do? What kind of linguist are you? What prepared you for and drew you to the field? How many languages do you speak? What is your family background? And why do you wear a beard? Chronological organization of 19 chapters spreads topics like family life over many chapters. Crystal embraces this storytelling challenge to mingle professional anecdotes with family experiences. He gradually reveals heritage bridging Northern Ireland, North Wales, Liverpool, London, Catholicism, and Judaism. For example, Chapter 17 describes an emotional encounter with his father and also a piece on choosing how to refer to the former Soviet Union in late 1991 as an encyclopedia editor. VERDICT A unique, lengthy, and substantial autobiography, this is recommended for academics and memoir fanatics.—Marianne Orme, Des Plaines P.L., IL\ \
