Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language (Oxford Paperback Reference) [Paperback]

Tom McArthur (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0192806378 | ISBN-13: 978-0192806376 | Publication Date: December 15, 2005

The Concise Companion to the English Language is a language lover's dream. Tom McArthur unveils a thousand-page cornucopia covering virtually every aspect of the English language as well as language in general. He covers a variety of topics, from Abbreviations to split infinitives, and includes substantial entries on key subjects such as African English, etymology, Pidgin, poetry, sexism, and slang. In addition, the Companion provides bibliographies for the larger entries, generous cross-referencing, etymologies for headwords, a chronology of English from Roman times to 1990, and an index of peopple who appear in entries or bibliographies. Packed with delightful surprises, the Companion will be an invaluable resource and a fascinating read for anyone with an interest in the English Language.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

If a telephone reference caller asks what deconstructionism is--or for the difference between a spondee and a dactyl, or for a clarification of Nice-Nellyism or the Gunning Fog Index--this is the source to reach for. The range here is wonderfully broad: language history, dialects, grammar, style, rhetoric, and so forth. A typical Oxford "Companion," this is both authoritative and fun. Articles are thorough, concise, and signed; cross-referencing is excellent; the ancient and au courant receive equal treatment; and the scope is global. Some will quibble (yes, quibble has an entry, but it's a cross reference to pun ); e.g., sundry authors who "influenced the shape or study of language" have entries, so that Mary Wollstonecraft is listed but Ruskin is not (although "Pathetic Fallacy" is). And the occasional bibliographies are perfunctory afterthoughts. Nevertheless, this is a fine book for reference and browsing. Highly recommended.
- Robert E. Brown, Onondaga Cty. P.L., Syracuse, N.Y.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Praise for The Oxford Companion to the English Language:

"This is one of the big dreams for most writers, for an addition to their research shelf. It's the ultimate in authority for spelling, definition, and first use."--The San Diego Tribune

"A superb survey."--Library Journal

"Invaluable."--Choice

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 712 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192806378
• ISBN-13: 978-0192806376
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,508,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enyclopedia of English, March 27, 2001

By 

T. E. Richardson (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Hardcover)

People who love English already have a few books about advanced English usage, such as Fowler, and various style guides. I love Fowler; browsing its pages is a delight. The Oxford Companion (concise ed) is different. It's much more objective, and more encylopedic. There are entries on many important linguistic terms and concepts, excellent definitions of all the grammatical terms you'll come across (what does "dative" mean?), accurate surveys of areas like what is a dialect and what isn't, and the major threads of the academic debate are presented. Every letter of the alphabet is given its history. Curious about Scouse? About the impact of Samuel Johnson and his dictionary? What is the state of opinion about the Sapir-Whorfian Hypothesis? Estuary English? Regional dialects of North America? I can't believe I haven't had this book on my shelf since the moment it was published, and I'm busy making a list of people to give it to. This a breakthrough contribution to books about English.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The perfect bathroom book for English-language junkies., December 16, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Oxford Companion to the English Language (Hardcover)

"Companion" well describes this book. People who love English for its own sake can flip open any page and start reading, and soon find themselves cross-referencing through the whole volume (and learning a lot). Not as essential as a dictionary or style guide, but a way to broaden your understanding of this marvellous, terrifying language and its relatives. For true language junkies, this is not for the bookshelf, but for the bathroom, to read in bits at leisure.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you need to know about literary terminology, September 21, 2000

By 

Nathan Eady (Galion, Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Oxford Companion to the English Language (Hardcover)

This book is one of the better purchases I have ever made. Every time I need a detail about the English language, literary devices and terminology, or grammatical usage, this book always has a couple of paragraphs to explain what I need to know -- and usually a handful of cross references to related topics. All with the usual careful and thorough treatment you expect from Oxford. Every library should have a copy of this book.