Description
Why do certain words have the power to offend? This book sheds light on prejudice in language, past and present.
About the Author
Karen Stollznow is an Australian-American linguist and author. She is a Researcher at the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research and was formerly a Research Associate at the University of California, Berkeley. Her books include Language Myths, Mysteries and Magic (2014), Would You Believe It? (2017) and God Bless America (2013). Karen is a host of the popular science podcast Monster Talk.
Reviews
'I don't think there is any more difficult topic in present-day language study than the vocabulary of offence. Karen Stollznow has done us all a great service in bringing together the largest collection of usages I have ever seen, in all the main areas of linguistic prejudice, and treating them in an enlightened, informative, and sensitive manner. It will help anyone who has ever offended others or been offended by a use of language - which means all of us.' David Crystal, University of Wales, Bangor
'The strength of the book is its comprehensiveness: it covers terms from history, current affairs, literature, public policy, advertising, and popular culture, and includes brief etymological notes... will be of immense value to scholars studying offensive language, both as a baseline for research and a source of ideas to be explored further ... Highly Recommended.' E. L. Battistella, Choice
'... an accessible read for a broad audience in a wide range of settings. The book is intended for use in professional settings such as workplaces and schools as well as in social settings like within families and communities.' Dominique Branson, Language in Society
Book Information
ISBN 9781108791786
Author Karen Stollznow
Format Paperback
Page Count 322
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 420g
Dimensions(mm) 215mm * 139mm * 19mm