Why do we say bete noir and not 'black beast', doppelganger and not 'double goer'? When is it that meanings become lost in translation and it is simply more satisfying to use the original? This wonderfully accessible book gives unique insights into different cultures and languages by lookingat the distinctive words they use as well as giving you a whole new vocabulary for those elusive things you never had a word for.Where would we be without saudade, the Portuguese wistful nostalgia which makes their fado music unlike any other in the world? What other word is there for the barefaced gutsy presumption encapsulated by the Yiddish word chutzpah? And wouldn't you like to have a word for that irritating person whobuttonholes you to tell you their long stories of woe? They are truly an attaccabottoni (lit. = a person who attacks your buttons). Or what about the Japanese yokomeshi, which means 'horizontal rice', in other words a meal eaten sideways, and describes the difficulty of learning a foreignlanguage---particularly appropriate for Japanese learners, where mastering the written language involves the shift from 'vertical' to 'horizontal' writing.Meticulously researched with dozens of specialist language consultants, and accessibly written by a linguist in the field, this book will appeal to anyone interested in language and world cultures. Exploring the words of different languages by chapter, the volume is lavishly illustrated in colourand extremely browsable. The foreword is written by Simon Winchester.This book is for anyone who has ever travelled and been fascinated by the culture they were visiting. In Other Words is a guide to the linguistic gems that capture a notion, defy translation, and define the cultures of the world.

In Other Words : A Language Lover's Guide to the Most Intriguing Words Around the World

Moore, Christopher J.

Reference

Oxford Univ. Pr.

An ancient Babylonian myth explains the cycles of the seasons as the result of the Goddess Ishtar sending her son to Earth, where he gave life to the crops and fruits, birds and animals, only to have Ishtar destroy his handiwork in a fit of jealous rage.

Ishtar and Tammuz: A Babylonian Myth of the Seasons

Children's Books

Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths

Kingfisher Books

All Ray Peterson ever wanted was to escape the rough, unforgiving neighborhood he grew up in; for him that meant working hard... all the time. Eventually, Ray's life would include all the trappings of a good one; a flourishing business, a big house and nice cars. However, the sacrifices he made to get there cut too deep. It isn't until tragedy strikes that Ray realizes that his family needed more.

God's Child

Literature & Fiction

Contemporary

Clairvoyant Books

The quintessential A to Z guide to British English—perfect for every egghead and bluestocking looking to conquer the language barrier Oscar Wilde once said the Brits have "everything in common with America nowadays except, of course, language." Any visitor to Old Blighty can sympathize with Mr. Wilde. After all, even fluent English speakers can be at sixes and sevens when told to pick up the "dog and bone" or "head to the loo," so they can "spend a penny." Wherever did these peculiar expressions come from? British author Christopher J. Moore made a name for himself on this side of the pond with the sleeper success of his previous book, In Other Words. Now, Moore draws on history, literature, pop culture, and his own heritage to explore the phrases that most embody the British character. He traces the linguistic influence of writers from Chaucer to Shakespeare and Dickens to Wodehouse, and unravels the complexity Brits manage to imbue in seemingly innocuous phrases like "All right." Along the way, Moore reveals the uniquely British origins of some of the English language’s more curious sayings. For example: Who is Bob and how did he become your uncle? Why do we refer to powerless politicians as “lame ducks”? How did “posh” become such a stylish word? Part language guide, part cultural study, How to Speak Brit is the perfect addition to every Anglophile’s library and an entertaining primer that will charm the linguistic-minded legions.

How to Speak Brit: The Quintessential Guide to the King's English, Cockney Slang, and Other Flummoxing British Phrases

Dictionaries & Thesauruses

Avery

"A delightful treasure house, literally a thesaurus, of linguistic marvels." --from the foreword by bestselling author Simon Winchester
A colorfully illustrated collection of more than ninety untranslatable words and phrases and the unique insights they offer into the cultures they come from.
Ever racked your brain for a word you're convinced should exist, yet is inexplicably absent from the dictionary? All languages have their limitations-should English fall short, the expression may lie elsewhere. That's where this book comes in: a quirky, international lexicon of linguistic gems that capture cultural untranslatables with satisfying precision. 
Take for example the Japanese yoko meshi, “a meal eaten sideways,” describing the experience of trying to communicate in an alien tongue, or mono-no-aware, the appreciation of life's sadness. From the distinctive coziness of the Danish hygge, to the unrestrained dis of the Mayan bol (“in-laws” and “stupidity”), to the profound collectivism of the Zulu concept of ubuntu (roughly, “I AM because WE ARE"), these mots justes are grouped according to language and prefaced with insightful overviews of the relevant cultures by linguist Christopher J. Moore.
Embellished with 20 entertaining new untranslatable words and phrases and 90 characterful color illustrations by Lan Truong, and with a foreword by Simon Winchester, In Other Words is amusing, profound, and unputdownable--a gorgeously packaged gift book to entertain even the most well-versed polyglot with marvels of language from around the world.

In Other Words: An Illustrated Miscellany of the World's Most Intriguing Words and Phrases

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Bloomsbury Publishing

English may well be the most widely spoken language in the world but what exactly do we mean when we talk about 'the English language'? The Queen's English is the perfect guide to understanding what makes the English tick. From cricket to chips, the jumble sale to the white van man, Moore casts a quizzical eye over English passions and concern and considers the influence on the language of English writers from Chaucer to Wodehouse, exposing the intriguing stories behind the language.

The Queen's English: From Argy-Bargy to Zany

UNSW Press

Justifiable

United States

Independently published

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Books by Moore, Christopher J.