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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Which came first: The worldview, or the words to describe it? Very possibly the latter, argues the author of They Have a Word for It. "Finding a name for something," says Howard Rheingold, "is a way of conjuring its existence." While collecting words for this book, Rheingold says he "became sympathetic to the idea that we think and behave the way we do in large part because we have words that make these thoughts and behaviors possible, acceptable, and useful." Rheingold's refusal to pull together words for entertainment value alone--though many of these words, and Rheingold's commentary on them, are highly entertaining--is what has given this book (previously out of print) a kind of cult following.
Which came first: The worldview, or the words to describe it? Very possibly the latter, argues the author of They Have a Word for It. "Finding a name for something," says Howard Rheingold, "is a way of conjuring its existence." While collecting words for this book, Rheingold says he "became sympathetic to the idea that we think and behave the way we do in large part because we have words that make these thoughts and behaviors possible, acceptable, and useful." Rheingold's refusal to pull together words for entertainment value alone--though many of these words, and Rheingold's commentary on them, are highly entertaining--is what has given this book (previously out of print) a kind of cult following.
Hawaiian contributes a word (ho'oponopono) here that means "solving a problem by talking it out"; Japanese, a term (kyoikumama) for a "mother who pushes her children into academic achievement"; Indonesian, a word (kekaku) meaning "to awaken from a nightmare"; and Mayan (some things, it seems, are universal), a concise way to say "stupid in-laws" (bol). While it is the Asian and obscure linguistic groups that seem to come up with the most "powerful" ideas, German wins for packing a whole sentence's worth of meaning into one (albeit long) word. How much happier Strunk and White would rest if we could just say Torschlüsspanik when discussing "the frantic anxiety experienced by unmarried women as they race against the 'biological clock'"; Treppenwitz when referring to the "clever remark that comes to mind when it is too late to utter it"; and Schlimmbesserung when lamenting "a so-called improvement that makes things worse." --Jane Steinberg
From Publishers Weekly
Rheingold (Tools for Thought, Talking Tech) is neither a linguist nor a Fachidiot ("narrow-minded technical expert"). Instead, as an animateur ("a person who can communicate difficult concepts to general audiences"), he often interjects an occurencia ("witty remark") as he reveals the Elementargedanken ("elementary thoughts of mankind") throughout these informal and informative essays. Over 150 words in 40 languages (Italian, Yiddish, Sanskrit, Mayan, Sioux, Thai, Kiriwina) are arranged thematically (business, dreams, spirituality, technology, politics), and only a fewthe Haida potlatch, the French-Creole lagniappe, the German Katzenjammerhave a recognizable ring. His aim is to present genuinely useful (rather than simply odd) words, since they "mold thoughts." Because he writes with an infectious enthusiasm for the subject, this delightful, fascinating lexicon is likely to spread the words.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
See all Editorial Reviews
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Citations
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29
books
cite this book:
- How Biblical Languages Work: A Student's Guide to Learning Hebrew and Greek by Peter James Silzer on page 34, page 191, and Back Matter
- To Build the Life You Want, Create the Work You Love: The Spiritual Dimension of Entrepreneuring by Marsha Sinetar in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- Word Court: Wherein verbal virtue is rewarded, crimes against the language are punished, and poetic justice is done by Barbara Wallraff on page 104, page 284, and page 306
- Ancient Forests of the Pacific Northwest by Elliott A. Norse on page 41, page 190, and page 211
- Word Court: Wherein Verbal Virtue Is Rewarded, Crimes Against the Language Are Punished, and Poetic Justice Is Done by Barbara Wallraff on page 104, page 284, and page 306