First published in 1959, Iona and Peter Opie's The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren is a pathbreaking work of scholarship that is also a splendid and enduring work of literature. Going outside the nursery, with its assortment of parent-approved entertainments, to observe and investigate the day-to-day creative intelligence and activities of children, the Opies bring to life the rites and rhymes, jokes and jeers, laws, games, and secret spells of what has been called "the greatest of savage tribes, and the only one which shows no signs of dying out."

"Western Lore and Language is the first dictionary to document the extraordinary range of words that are an integral part of the West, old and new. Focusing on words that either originated in the West (forty-niner, skookum, quaking aspen), are used mainly in the West (butte, skink, Spanish sword), or are associated with the West (mesa, rodeo, surfer), Thomas Clark has compiled an entertaining and essential reference of the Western word. This generously illustrated resource gives readers everything they need to talk western: a pinch of Border Spanish, (Tex-Mex, Tejana, Spanglish), some California Mellow, a generous portion of Old West, and a broad scoop of New West (from vineyard cultivation to Valley Girl vapidity). For more serious readers, the dictionary also offers complete lexicological entries for each word - part of speech, pronunciation, definition, source, etymology, dates, cross-references, and editorial comments."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Presents a humorous look at the English language, including information on word and phrase origins, slang, style, usage, punctuation, and pronunciation.

A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar Why do we say “I am reading a catalog” instead of “I read a catalog”? Why do we say “do” at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Language distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history. Covering such turning points as the little-known Celtic and Welsh influences on English, the impact of the Viking raids and the Norman Conquest, and the Germanic invasions that started it all during the fifth century ad, John McWhorter narrates this colorful evolution with vigor. Drawing on revolutionary genetic and linguistic research as well as a cache of remarkable trivia about the origins of English words and syntax patterns, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue ultimately demonstrates the arbitrary, maddening nature of English— and its ironic simplicity due to its role as a streamlined lingua franca during the early formation of Britain. This is the book that language aficionados worldwide have been waiting for (and no, it’s not a sin to end a sentence with a preposition).

A beautifully illustrated gift book on the secret language and lore of garden flowers. With four seasonal sections full of information on each plant's medicinal properties, uses, magical qualities and related superstitions. Features a mixture of photographs alongside Cicely Mary Barker's exquisite artwork known for it's botanical accuracy, to make the perfect gift for every gardener. Produced in association with the Royal Horticultural Society who celebrate their bicentennial this year.

This is a unique collection of information about the Southern Paiutes, which covers mythology and folklore, traditional crafts, historical stories, and information about the Paiute language. LaVan Martineau began collecting a lot of the information in this book during the 1940s from individuals still maintaining the old ways, while their culture eroded beneath their feet. These elders willingly shared this information with Mr. Martineau. Little did he realize that within a few decades almost no one under the age of 50 would still speak the Paiute language, and even fewer would still know the traditional stories and crafts. Discover the charming winter tales that were told in during the wintertime after the pinyon nut harvest in Fall, each story was designed to be morally instructive. Learn how the Paiute made bows and arrows, baskets, cradleboards, moccasins and more. You'll even get a primer on the Paiute language. A unique document from a vanishing period.

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLER “Epic from start to finish.” —Marie Lu, #1 New York Times best-selling author of Warcross “A brilliant and breathless twist on classic mythology!” —Marissa Meyer, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Lunar Chronicles Every seven years, the Agon begins. As punishment for a past rebellion, nine Greek gods are forced to walk the earth as mortals. They are hunted by the descendants of ancient bloodlines, all eager to kill a god and seize their divine power and immortality. Long ago, Lore Perseous fled that brutal world, turning her back on the hunt’s promises of eternal glory after her family was murdered by a rival line. For years she’s pushed away any thought of revenge against the man—now a god—responsible for their deaths. Yet as the next hunt dawns over New York City, two participants seek her out: Castor, a childhood friend Lore believed to be dead, and Athena, one of the last of the original gods, now gravely wounded. The goddess offers an alliance against their mutual enemy and a way to leave the Agon behind forever. But Lore's decision to rejoin the hunt, binding her fate to Athena's, will come at a deadly cost—and it may not be enough to stop the rise of a new god with the power to bring humanity to its knees. From the #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Darkest Minds comes a sweepingly ambitious, high-octane tale of power, destiny, love, and redemption.

This charming book is filled with sayings, legends and proverbs derived from the oral history of the countryside and unveils how they came about, what they mean, and how they came to be such a big part of the language we use today.