Biting The Wax Tadpole - Confessions Of A Language Fanatic
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Unconventional grammar tour across languages.
Biting the Wax Tadpole is a delightful book for language lovers who want to explore the unique grammar of various languages in a fun and accessible way. Elizabeth Little takes the reader on a tour of the grammar of different languages, from Lithuanian to Navajo and even delves into the meaning of Swedish names of IKEA products. The book is filled with fun facts, stories and explanations that are easy to understand and provides a unique perspective on grammar that is enjoyable to read.
Biting The Wax Tadpole - Confessions Of A Language Fanatic
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
ISBN: 9780385527743
Estimated First-hand Retail Price: RM101.38 MYR
Authors:
Elizabeth Little
Publisher: Random House
Date of Publication: 2008-11-11
Format: Paperback
Related Collections:
Creative Nonfiction
Related Topics:
Essays
Goodreads rating: 3.59
(rated by 338 readers)
Description
When Chinese shopkeepers tried to find a written equivalent of Coca-Cola, one set of characters they chose was pronounced “ke-kou ke-la.” It sounded right, but it literally translated as “bite the wax tadpole.”Language, like travel, is always stranger than we expect and often more beautiful than we imagine. In Biting the Wax Tadpole Elizabeth Little takes a decidedly unstuffy and accessible tour of grammar via the languages of the world—from Lithuanian noun declensions and imperfective Russian verbs to Ancient Greek and Navajo. And in one of the most courageous acts in the history of popular grammar books, she attempts to provide an explanation of verbal aspect that people might actually understand. Other difficult and pressing questions addressed in Biting the Wax Tadpole *Just what, exactly, the Swedish names of IKEA products mean*Why Icelandic speakers must decide if the numbers 1-4 are plural*How Theodor Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) was able to take an otherwise unexceptional pair of breakfast foods and turn them into literary fodder for generations*Why Joanie Loves Chachi was Korea’s highest rated television show ever*Why Basque grammar seems downright kooky to just about anyone who isn’t a native speaker
Condition guide
Book Condition Guide
Books in Like New Condition
This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Very Good Condition
This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Good Condition
We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
Books in Well Read Condition
This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.
*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.
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Unconventional grammar tour across languages.
Biting the Wax Tadpole is a delightful book for language lovers who want to explore the unique grammar of various languages in a fun and accessible way. Elizabeth Little takes the reader on a tour of the grammar of different languages, from Lithuanian to Navajo and even delves into the meaning of Swedish names of IKEA products. The book is filled with fun facts, stories and explanations that are easy to understand and provides a unique perspective on grammar that is enjoyable to read.
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