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26th out of 337 books
—
136 voters
Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, and Essences; With Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory
Ali G: "How many words does you know?"
Noam Chomsky: " Normally, humans, by maturity, have tens of thousands of them."
Ali G: " What is some of 'em?""--Da Ali G Show" Did you know that both "mammal "and "matter "derive from baby talk? Have you noticed how "wince "makes you wince? Ever wonder why so many h-words have to do with breath? Roy Blount Jr. certainly has, and after...more
Noam Chomsky: " Normally, humans, by maturity, have tens of thousands of them."
Ali G: " What is some of 'em?""--Da Ali G Show" Did you know that both "mammal "and "matter "derive from baby talk? Have you noticed how "wince "makes you wince? Ever wonder why so many h-words have to do with breath? Roy Blount Jr. certainly has, and after...more
Hardcover, 364 pages
Published
October 14th 2008
by Farrar Straus Giroux
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This wasn't quite as brilliant as the first chapter, included as teaser in the New Work Times book review a few weeks ago, led me to expect. But there is plenty of good stuff to cheer and amuse the reader.
The book is formatted like a dictionary, in which each entry is an idiosyncratic riff by Blount on some aspect of the alphabet, words, the English language, language generally, or English usage. (Blount is a member of the American Heritage Dictionary usage panel.)
What do I mean by 'idiosyncra...more
The book is formatted like a dictionary, in which each entry is an idiosyncratic riff by Blount on some aspect of the alphabet, words, the English language, language generally, or English usage. (Blount is a member of the American Heritage Dictionary usage panel.)
What do I mean by 'idiosyncra...more
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This is a great book. So endlessly fascinating and so full of facts and thoughts and quips that I have to keep going back and re-reading parts of it even before I get to the end. Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in the English language. It's quite unlike any other book about words.
This book gets 5 stars because not only will I read it again, but I will keep reading it and reading it. I manage to forget much of what I read, so I'm happy to keep rereading. It's my bathroom book.
Or...more
This book gets 5 stars because not only will I read it again, but I will keep reading it and reading it. I manage to forget much of what I read, so I'm happy to keep rereading. It's my bathroom book.
Or...more
I stand firm in the belief that the most obnoxious party conversation of all is the origins of words. There is never a good reason to bust out the Old French "cover fire" roots of "curfew." A close second is the proper use of words and expressions. For the ultimate horror, a combination: a statement on the proper use of an expression, followed by the origin of that expression or the words therein. I, like many people, have been guilty of all these pretensions in the past, but in the last few yea...more
This book most likely isn't for everyone, in particular those who are already snoring at the mention of a book about the origins, moods, and usage of words. But, for those who fret over getting the most out of language, written and spoken, when they use it, and who see it as a tool and a thing of beauty, this is a great find.
Blount's book is written in entry form, with a section devoted to each letter of the English alphabet, complete with an introductory entry for each letter. This keeps the bo...more
Blount's book is written in entry form, with a section devoted to each letter of the English alphabet, complete with an introductory entry for each letter. This keeps the bo...more
Nov 18, 2009
Marti
marked it as to-read
"Blount (Long Time Leaving) is a contributing editor to the Atlantic Monthly, a regular panelist on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! quiz show and a usage consultant to the American Heritage Dictionary. He displays his pleasure in words with his subtitle — 'The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, Tinctures, Tonics, and Essences; with Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory' — as he dishes up an alp...more
When I was last home for Christmas, my mother pretty much shoved this book into my hands and said, "You have to read this." And far be it from me to ignore my mother's advice, except possibly that little tidbit about being trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space. I kinda spaced out on that one. Probably wasn't important....
Anyway, Mom was right. Like nearly everyone else in my family, I am a lover of language. I read voraciously (as yo...more
Anyway, Mom was right. Like nearly everyone else in my family, I am a lover of language. I read voraciously (as yo...more
LOVE. a few highlights, below:
1. "(Did you know that Hells Angels refer to themselves as 'AJ' because it sounds so much like 'HA'?)" [9:]
2. "I thought I had found a flaw in AHD, where it says 'abracadabra' originally 'was a magic word, the letters of which were arranged in an inverted pyramid'.... [visual representation of how this works:]... Am I relieved that this book didn't turn, just now, into a flock of pigeons." [13-14:]
3. "We got where we were supposed to. He was good at what he did. But...more
1. "(Did you know that Hells Angels refer to themselves as 'AJ' because it sounds so much like 'HA'?)" [9:]
2. "I thought I had found a flaw in AHD, where it says 'abracadabra' originally 'was a magic word, the letters of which were arranged in an inverted pyramid'.... [visual representation of how this works:]... Am I relieved that this book didn't turn, just now, into a flock of pigeons." [13-14:]
3. "We got where we were supposed to. He was good at what he did. But...more
Warning: this is for word nerds only. A reference book of sorts, it defines words and terms of Blount's choosing, but also gives word origins and examples of changes in meaning. Under "cheese" he lists the words said in various languages when having one's photo taken. The "muscle/mussel" entry tells us both words were the same in ancient Rome. Under "Wyoming" he suggests that we start using it as a verb, since it looks like one. Learning made fun.
Jan 09, 2010
Cade
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Writters; Readers; English Teachers; Anyone with an interest in words or the English Language
What a great book. It is like stepping inside Roy Blount Jr.’s head and watching his brain work. The man has an amazing respect for words and the English language. Words have meaning and need to be used properly if they are to convey communication. Roy certainly discusses the meaning and proper use of words and phrases, but more enjoyably he discusses the sonic essence of words and letters and phrases.
He talks of pips and pops and fits and stops. The slither and hiss of an s. How stuff is just f...more
He talks of pips and pops and fits and stops. The slither and hiss of an s. How stuff is just f...more
Feb 22, 2009
Guy
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Word people. Word, people.
Recommended to Guy by:
Bill Simmons (in his column)
Finally, someone else who cares as much as I do about words and their use. I am so sick of people using exhaustive when they mean exhausting and disinterested when they mean uninterested. It's good to know there's someone else out there raging against the Newspeak-ification of our language. Double plus good.
When looking up a word in a dictionary, I always wander off path like Red Riding Hood going after just one more wildflower, then another, and another. Roy Blount Jr.'s unique glossographia is full of the most delightful flowers! I set out to read the pages in numerical order, but before I was finished with the A's (Mr. Blount would approve of this use of the apostrophe) I was enticed into the woods by a splendid "see" reference. Then another. And another.
Here's a bit from page 8 to entice other...more
Here's a bit from page 8 to entice other...more
This review refers to the Audiobook version of Alphabet Juice. If you have the opportunity I highly suggest giving the audio-book version a listen. I was a little dubious at first, books about language don't necessarily do very well in audio format, but I'm SO glad I gave it a try. Mr. Blount's joy and zest for language really comes alive as he reads his book. It's a sheer delight to listen to. Alphabet Juice is a superbly apt name for this book; it's not often that you find something that delig...more
A perfect bathroom book, this fun glossary's main conceit emends Saussure's assertion that the relationship of word to thing is completely arbitrary. Blount "argues" that while Saussure is ultimately correct, there has to be something about a word's form, sound or taste that evokes the thing to which it refers. Lacking this admittedly vague and often indefinable connection to its referent, a word will either fade from use or never be adopted in the first place.
His spirited and playful though se...more
His spirited and playful though se...more
Word lovers unite! (Bad spellers untie!) Never has the exploration of the alphabet and its combinations been so much fun. Blount Jr. (the missing comma before Jr., he explains herein, is intentional) talks about words that look and sound exactly the way they should (without the G, "phlegm" just wouldn't be the same), stopping along the way to tell some barely relevant stories that are, like the book subtitle says, foul and savory. My faves involve Wilt Chamberlain, Leonard Bernstein, and Harry T...more
If you liked your History of the English language course in college, or have a thing for etymology, then you will enjoy some of your time spent with this book. Of course a book by Roy Blount Jr. will have funny and interesting moments as well as obvious poltical opinion, slightly off color digressions, and the use of words that are not considered polite for general discourse. Your inner English major will have to decide if you can slog through the boring stuff, bypass or ignore the occasional cr...more
Dec 18, 2012
Shonna Froebel
marked it as to-read
Okay, the reason I didn't finish this book is because it is the kind of book that you dip in and out of, that you savour in small bites, that you want to write in the margins of. And so, of course, I have put the book on my wishlist (and if I haven't got it by my birthday, I shall treat myself!).
I should have known by the wonderful title that I would feel this way about the book, but when, by page seven, he was complaining about the combination very unique, he had me.
A treat for all of those who...more
I should have known by the wonderful title that I would feel this way about the book, but when, by page seven, he was complaining about the combination very unique, he had me.
A treat for all of those who...more
Apr 29, 2012
Booklove30
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
peple who love words and where they come from.
Recommended to Booklove30 by:
book review magazine or paper
I can't remember if I read the whole book or got halfway through( for it was some time ago)before I gave up on reading this book. The reason I choose to read this book was because I thought it was a books giving the meanings behind words and their history. The author got a sense of humor which I could relate. Of course that the reason I'm giving the book two stares. I feel that the jokes get in the way of telling the histories of different words, and how they are use in society past and present....more
I think I would have given this book 4 stars if I hadn't decided to read it from cover to cover. I think it's a book that's better enjoyed by reading a little bit here and there. It took me quite a while to get through, which I think was a result of the nature of the book. It's a dictionary of sorts, and therefore doesn't have a running narrative to hold your attention. I found I would generally only read a few sections before my mind would wander onto something totally unrelated.
I enjoy Roy Blo...more
I enjoy Roy Blo...more
I did not care for this book when I first tried to give it a listen. It is composed of hundreds of short essays, seemingly disconnected bits of trivial bits of the English language that did not strike me as a compelling listen when I first tried it in the hustle and bustle of my daily life. Just picked it up again over winter holidays. What a difference.
My brain just had to slow down to the pace of Roy Blount Jr's southern speech. And what I found was someone who truly has a love affair with al...more
My brain just had to slow down to the pace of Roy Blount Jr's southern speech. And what I found was someone who truly has a love affair with al...more
This is a book about words; the subtitle sums it up very nicely. Roy Blount Jr. is one of my favorite panelists on Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me, so I thought I'd try out one of his books. I liked this book because I really like words. Not just reading them, but saying them and learning about them. If you are not interested in reading this book, I offer three highlights:
tmesis- inserting a word into another word for an intensifying effect. Example from my life: Tyler was trying to come up with a mnem...more
tmesis- inserting a word into another word for an intensifying effect. Example from my life: Tyler was trying to come up with a mnem...more
This is a fun book. There's a slight lack of focus, but this, for me, added to my enjoyment. In his preface, Blount talks about words' "juice," their zing or their sound, and his thesis seems to be that language is not arbitrary (a "tree" may as well be called a "igipen") but instead, the sound(s) evoke the thing, in many cases. I don't really buy this, so I'm thankful Blount spends most of his time just talking about the joy of words, how fun they can be, etc. etc. There's a lot of etymology, s...more
I don't know who Roy Blount Jr. is, but he obviously thinks a lot of himself. Apparently his publisher does too, considering the incredible leeway he was given over the content in this book. He rants on politics, he covers language usage and vocal anatomy, there were arcane sports references and random poetry. Altogether, this book left me with a headache, which is saying something for an avowed lexophile. In fact, I would never have kept reading it if not for the truly interesting etymological...more
Nov 19, 2008
Sarita
marked it as to-read
I'm in - see here from the New York Times review by Jack Shafer:
"There’s no aspect of our language, written, spoken or grunted, that escapes Blount appraisal. Like that other lay linguist H. L. Mencken, who beat the pros at their own game with “The American Language,” he figures that if amateurs are qualified to create language and authorized to mutate it, why leave the fun of tasting, dissecting and quarreling over it to the professoriate?
Marginalized as a humorist (like Mencken) because he k...more
"There’s no aspect of our language, written, spoken or grunted, that escapes Blount appraisal. Like that other lay linguist H. L. Mencken, who beat the pros at their own game with “The American Language,” he figures that if amateurs are qualified to create language and authorized to mutate it, why leave the fun of tasting, dissecting and quarreling over it to the professoriate?
Marginalized as a humorist (like Mencken) because he k...more
May 18, 2009
Terence
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Terence by:
Heard Blount interview on radio
Shelves:
science-language-linguistics
For anyone who seriously enjoys using words, this is a marvelous book. A collection of mini-essays about words and phrases that have struck Blount's fancy. If there's a serious point to the book, it's one that I'm whole-heartedly in favor of: A language loses "something" when its speakers cease to care about what they write and say. We should encourage and celebrate sprachgefuhl (imagine an umlaut above the "u"), a feeling for language, the mot juste, an ear for idiom.
Some representative example...more
Some representative example...more
What a bloated, vanity project! The book has 5 stars moments but they are rare. He keeps talking about himself and quoting himself. (See tump). Enough!!
I was shaking my head and saying "Amen!" to another reviewer's comments.
1) It seems as if he just learned how to use the internet and wants to bore us with his search results
2) He must have discovered an old notebook with all his ramblings and old ideas and decided to add them to the book.
3) There are times when I have no idea what he's talking...more
I was shaking my head and saying "Amen!" to another reviewer's comments.
1) It seems as if he just learned how to use the internet and wants to bore us with his search results
2) He must have discovered an old notebook with all his ramblings and old ideas and decided to add them to the book.
3) There are times when I have no idea what he's talking...more
Per Mr. Blount's instructions in the Introduction, I haven't read this cover to cover. I skip around, enjoying the ubiquitous cross references.
This is a great book for anyone who claims to have writing ability and/or command of the American English language. It is also fun reading, though I wouldn't characterize it as light either. Mr. Blount has a lifetime of experience with words and letters. His entries are sincere, well-researched, and academic. The brilliance is how readable Blount makes t...more
This is a great book for anyone who claims to have writing ability and/or command of the American English language. It is also fun reading, though I wouldn't characterize it as light either. Mr. Blount has a lifetime of experience with words and letters. His entries are sincere, well-researched, and academic. The brilliance is how readable Blount makes t...more
As heard on "The Writer's Alamanac".
Also, Roy Blount Jr. is a frequent panelist on "Wait wait... don't tell me!" (and, like everyone on NPR, he looks nothing like I imagined him to).
Also, Roy Blount Jr. is a frequent panelist on "Wait wait... don't tell me!" (and, like everyone on NPR, he looks nothing like I imagined him to).
This is really a 3.5. Roy Blount Jr. is one of my favorite guests on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, so I'd been wanting to read one of his books for awhile. This was not what I expected, though. I thought it would be a book of essays, but really it's a dictionary. Blount discusses literary history, linguistics, etymology, grammar, and culture by defining words of his choosing. The entries are interesting and funny, and I like all of those topics. By the end, though, I was craving some narrative. I thi...more
Entertaining. I'm not totally sure I buy Blount's premise that some words endure because their sounds go so well with their meanings, but s'okay. I had a good time reading what he cares about in grammar, syntax, and vocabulary; I could probably read a book like that from every English-speaking person. But Blount writes better than most of them, I'm sure.
Let me know if you'd like me to send it your way.
Let me know if you'd like me to send it your way.
LMAO in the car. People pointed and stared. If you love words, Blount will have you laughing out loud while you drive down the road. I'm not sure this would be as funny reading it as it is having Blount's southern drawl cavorting through the car speakers. He takes umbrage at a misplaced 'if' and expounds on the role baby talk plays in the creation of our words. Take J for instance. Blount lists negative words that start with J: Jail, Jaundice, Jilt. Magnificent. Great for a road trip or driving...more
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| meaningful quotations | 1 | 3 | Jul 10, 2012 01:10am |
Roy Blount Jr. is the author of twenty-two books, covering subjects from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Robert E. Lee, to trying to understand the South. He is a regular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! and is a contributing editor of The Atlantic Monthly. Born in Indianapolis and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Blount now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, the painter Joan Gri...more
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“Eaters of Wonder Bread
Must be underbred.
So little to eat.
Where's the wheat?”
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Must be underbred.
So little to eat.
Where's the wheat?”
